CONSULTATION ON CORRUPTION PROBLEMS CONDUCTED WITH PARTICIPATION OF LAW ENFORCERS IN SOUTHERN MARZES

Noyan Tapan

Au g 4, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. In order to efficiently fight against
corruption, the law enforcement bodies first of all should not
tolerate corruption within themselves, the RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian stated at the August 2 cluster consultation
"The Peculiarities of Prevention, Disclosure and Investigation of
Corruption Crimes" held in Yeghegnadzor. "The society should feel
that the actions and cooperation of law enforcement bodies give
real and desirable results," he said, attaching special importance
to the role of the mass media in the fight against corruption. Law
enforcers of Armenia’s southern marzes (regions) took part in the
August 2 cluster consultation.

The head of the RA Special Investigation Service Andranik Mirzoyan said
that in the first half of 2008 the Service investigated 29 criminal
cases of corruption nature, including 12 cases under Article 308
(abuse of official authority), 6 cases under Article 309 (exceeding
official authority), 6 cases under Article 311 (taking bribes), as
well as cases under the following articles: Article 179 (squandering
or embezzlement), Article 214 (abuse of authority by employees of
commercial and other organization), Article 215 (contraband), Article
314 (official forgery), and Article 349 (forgery of evidence). Out of
29 criminal cases, 13 ones with a conclusion of "guilty" with respect
to 19 persons were sent to court. According to A. Mirzoyan, among
the most noteworthy cases are the case on demanding and receiving
a 1,500-dollar bribe from Gurgen Nasibian by investigator of the
investigation unit of N garrison of the the RA defence ministry’s
investigation department Arthur Baghinian for not subjecting the
former’s brother to criminal responsibility, as well as the criminal
case which was opened on the fact of receiving a 1,000-dollar bribe
from citizens Torgom Hambartsumian and Tigran Tadevosian by the head
of the Bagratashen customs shift for permission to import 4,100 kg
of tangerines without customs clearance.

The head of the RA Special Investigation Service said that 3 criminal
cases were quashed – with acquittals, and 7 criminal cases remained
incompleted.

17 cases on corruption were opened in Lori marz, 4 – in Shirak marz,
4 cases – in Tavush marz, and no case was opened, for example, in
Ararat marz, to which the RA prosecutor general drew attention of
those present. He said that during investigation of corruption cases,
there have been cases when the persons who had made a statement
about corruption later renounced their evidence, saying that they
gave false evidence due to a bribe or influence.