NSS Discovers Bribery Demanded and Received by a Tax Committee Employee

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has uncovered a case of bribery demanded and received by an employee of the State Revenue Committee in the framework of its functions aimed at combating corruption.

According to the NSS press center, preliminary data indicate that the chief inspector of the Goris territorial tax inspection of the tax operational department of the State Revenue Committee, aware that the company “Kapuyt Bazalt” LLC had been extracting and selling stones without the necessary permits, as well as failing to register the majority of its employees, demanded and received basalt stone as a bribe (approximately worth about 600,000 AMD) to ignore this violation and not to take legal action.

In fact, the company extracted about 700 cubic meters of stone worth 17,500,000 AMD during the years 2017-2018 and sold it without paying taxes, causing significant damage to the state.

A criminal case has been initiated by the investigation department of the NSS regarding the apparent crime under the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code. Charges have been filed against two individuals. The revenue committee official has been arrested. An inquiry is ongoing.