Sports School Director Embezzles 20 Million Dram

The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia has reported new cases of apparent corruption schemes associated with employment relations in educational institutions, state administration, and local self-government bodies under its jurisdiction.

According to information received from operational data by the Special Investigative Service of the Armenian Police and the Shirak Regional Division, evidence has emerged regarding the embezzlement of salaries for employees who have not actually attended work at the "A. Hakobyan Children's Sports School for Tennis and Table Tennis" in Gyumri.

Documentary materials compiled by the Mush Division of the Police indicate that the director of the sports school used his official position to misappropriate a particularly large sum amounting to approximately 20,000,000 Armenian Drams between 2008 and 2019. Specifically, during this period, five individuals were appointed as coaches, and two as guards, who regularly failed to attend work and were absent from the Republic of Armenia for extended personal reasons.

Despite these circumstances, falsified data was included in the salary payment reports under the director's signature, confirming the attendance of these individuals during their absences. Consequently, salaries totaling around 20,000,000 Armenian Drams were calculated and disbursed in their names, which they received and controlled.

Considering that the prepared materials contain elements of criminal acts that indicate embezzlement of particularly large amounts and official forgery, a comprehensive, multifaceted, and objective investigation is necessary to clarify all circumstances. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 179, Part 3, Clause 1, and Article 314, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, and the pre-investigation proceedings have been entrusted to the Shirak Regional Investigative Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.