FORMER ARMENIAN CONSUL IN LOS ANGELES ARRESTED

Noyan Tapan
July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, JULY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The following five people were
arrested on July 28 in the U.S.: Norair Ghalumian, 52, of Burbank,
the Armenian consul in Los Angeles from 1999 through 2003, Hakop
Hovanesyan, 54, of Glendale, a former employee at the Armenian
Consulate in Los Angeles and current operator of Regency Travel
in Glendale, Margarita Lazarian, 41, of Glendale, Oganes Nardos,
36, of Valencia, a substance abuse counselor, Elvis Madatyan, 47,
of Glendale. Later N. Ghalumian and another three persons arrested
with him were released with a pledge. And of the arrested, who has
never been a Consulate employee, was not released even with a pledge.

They have been arrested on charges that they sold official letters to
illegal immigrants. These letters state that a country will not issue
a travel document for a particular individual. They helped them avoid
deportation. According to proper American bodies, part of citizens
receiving forged documents are accused of crimes.

In connection with the incident RA Foreign Ministry Acting Spokesperson
Tigran Balayan reported to Radio Liberty that the news is being
checked, and they will provide additional information later.

According to Radio Liberty’s information, American law enforcers
have attended to the investigation of this case for several years. An
FBI agent was involved in the suspects’ environment. He periodically
provided information to investigators investigating the case.