The Investigative Division of Ajapnyak and Davitashen Administrative Districts of Investigative Department of Yerevan of the Investigative Committee of the RA, had obtained data on the fact that the investigator received a bribe from a person with the legal status of a victim in a criminal proceeding under investigation in the same investigative department.

The Investigative Committee reported.

On 13 March, 2023, a 27-year-old resident of Kotayk region submitted a report that he has the legal status of a victim in one of the criminal proceedings being investigated by the above-mentioned investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee from 1 August, 2022, in the framework of which he was the victim of a fraud in the amount of USD 12,000.

According to the report, during the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings, the investigator conducting the proceedings requested the sum of 500 USD from him in order to transfer it to the prosecutor aimed to find the person who apparently committed the crime and to return the specified amount after a week. However, the investigator later refused to return the money, on various, and groundless reasons.

On 10 March, 2023, the mentioned investigator, who was no longer holding the position, transferred AMD 204,000 to the account of a 27-year-old young man and requested to approach the Investigative Division in order to continue the investigation.

Considering the fact that the report submitted by the 27-year-old young man contains a factual description of the apparent crime provided for in Article 435, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code, the Investigative Division of Ajapnyak and Davitashen Administrative Districts of Investigative Department of Yerevan of the Investigative Committee of the RA initiated criminal proceedings.

Taking into account that the preliminary investigation in cases of apparent corruption crime is carried out by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, the materials of the initiated criminal proceedings were sent to the RA Prosecutor’s Office in order to resolve the issue of investigative subordination.

The mentioned investigator was dismissed from his position in the RA Investigative Committee on 12 October 2022.

Note: A person that is suspected or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent until his/her guilt is proved by a court judgment that has come into legal effect pursuant to the procedure determined by RA Criminal Procedure Code.