On 9 January, 2024, after the trial that lasted for about two years, the request of the Prosecutor’s Office was partially satisfied (the prosecutor demanded 7 years of imprisonment), by the verdict of the Criminal Court of the First Instance of Yerevan city, and the judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Gegharkunik region (authorities suspended) the person was found guilty of committing particularly large-scale fraud and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

The suspended judge was accused of committing the crime that he, occupying the position of judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Gegharkunik Marz (suspended), embezzled through M.M., from the latter’s relative, S.M., by fraud and abuse of trust a particularly large sum, equivalent to 20,000 US dollars.

In particular, the suspended judge promised that, based on the newly revealed circumstances, he can achieve a court decision in favor of S.M. by filing a new claim under that pretext, fraudulently demanded 20,000 USD, in the event that the suspended judge was informed from the beginning, before receiving the money, that there were no grounds for revising the legally enforced judicial act.

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.