500 Million AMD Embezzled from Armenian Defense Ministry

YEREVAN (Arka) — Armenian Investigation Committee’s military department has completed investigation into a gross embezzlement committed in the process of creation of a video conference communication system for the Armenian army’s operative administration center, the press office of the Investigation Committee reports.

The original versions of the papers received as a result of the committee’s cooperation with some countries’ law enforcement agencies show that equipment for video conference communication system was overpriced and there were false data in invoice. As a result, a sum equal to $455,000 was embezzled.

In particular, on August 21, 2013, the Armenian defense ministry signed a contract with A R-I C T to purchase necessary equipment for deploying the videoconference communication facilities.

The cost of the contract was AMD 485,831,189 (over $1 million). Before the signing this contract the director of the mentioned company had negotiated over the matter.

According to the results of the inquiry, he, taking into account that Armenia has no similar systems, that installation of such systems is complicated and needs application of new technologies and purchase of foreign equipment, demanded too high prices.

“In such circumstances the defense ministry couldn’t properly examine the price offer and compare it with market prices,” the news release says. “Besides, the items bought abroad were addressed to the defense ministry and were not subject to declaration.”

The investigators asked for legal assistance from some countries law enforcement agencies. As a result, they learned from the information received from the United States and Georgia how much the A R-I C T company paid for the equipment.

After receiving the new data, investigators corrected the extent of the accusation of the company director, who was charged with embezzlement yet in 2014.

The company director is charged with gross fraud – he has pocketed AMD 186,136.612 ($454,916.65) from the defense ministry. He remains in custody pending trial.