As a result of complex operative-search activities and procedural actions carried out in criminal proceedings initiated in the Main Directorate of Investigation on the basis of a report of an obvious crime, presented as a result of the implementation of operational data received in the Yerevan City Department of the RA National Security Service, and materials confirming the corresponding fact presented along with it, obvious cases of fraud on an especially large scale were detected as part of a group, by prior agreement, complicity in its commission, as well as obvious cases of forgery of documents confirming a fact of legal significance and granting rights issued by an organization of a local self-government body and commercial organization.

As a result of other evidentiary and procedural actions, it was established that the actual owner of the Limited Liability Companies “Haykazunq” and “Foton” Y.A., recognized as the winner of tenders for public procurement of infant food for preschool educational institutions and engaged in the supply of food products, by prior agreement with P.M., who was actually performing the functions of a delivery driver in the mentioned companies, as part of a group, with a single intent, by deception, using forged documents, with the intent to steal sums on an especially large scale, complementing each other’s actions, using forged documents issued by an organization of a local self-government body and commercial organization, confirming a fact of legal significance and providing the right to compensation, with inflated data on the demand and supply of various types of food that did not correspond to reality, with the complicity (in the form of providing funds and removing obstacles) of employees of “Haykazunq” LLC K.M., N. H., N. N., S. S., R. M., as well as G. S., A. A., involved in the process of sorting and distribution of meat products, responsible persons of various kindergartens subordinate to Yerevan Municipality and others persons in the period from February to November 2023, by transfer, received and fraudulently stole sums in especially large amounts, paid for consignments of goods that were not actually delivered.

Based on sufficient factual data acquired within the framework of criminal proceedings, public criminal prosecutions were initiated and charges were brought against 9 members of the criminal group under the relevant article of the RA Criminal Code. Some of the members of the criminal group gave confessional testimony about the mechanism of theft, the distribution of roles of members of the criminal group, the distribution of income obtained by criminal means, the agreements reached regarding the circumstances of the theft on an especially large scale and the methods of their implementation, and other things. In addition to the testimony, documents were also presented with records substantiating the circumstances of the theft and containing factual data on the size of the distribution of criminal proceeds. Detention was applied as a measure of restraint against five members of the criminal group.

At the same time, searches were carried out at residential addresses, in adjacent buildings, at workplaces, in the cars of members of the criminal group, in total at about four dozen addresses, during which notebooks and documents containing records of theft in especially large sizes, the amount of 22 million AMD, equivalent to approximately 55.000 USD, gold jewelry, as well as mobile phones, computers were found out.

About two dozen employees of various kindergartens in Yerevan city were also questioned, some of whom gave confessionary statements on the circumstances of the theft on an especially large scale, their involvement in the mentioned crimes and a number of other circumstances of evidentiary value in criminal proceedings.

The preliminary investigation continues, procedural actions and operative-search measures are being carried out to clarify all the circumstances of the case, including the total amount of the theft, reaching large proportions, and the full circle of persons involved in the criminal group, to apply criminal legal measures of influence against them, as well as to ensure compensation for damage caused by the alleged crime.

Note: Anyone charged with a crime is considered innocent as long as his/her guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.