RA General Prosecutor Confirms Indictment Against Accused in Pedophilia Case

The deputy head of the RA General Prosecutor Department for Investigation by National Security Agencies has confirmed the indictment in the case of Serop Der-Boghossian, president and owner of Metal Prince Ltd. Corporation and Akhtala Ore Processing Plant CJSC, who was arrested in February on sex abuse charges stemming from media reports that implicated him in pedophilia.

According to the RA General Prosecutor, based on evidence acquired during the investigation, Serop Der-Boghossian, between 2004–2010, chose the most vulnerable, financially needy, orphaned, mainly fatherless boys in the northern town of Akhtala to engage in acts of a sexual nature. Prior to making his choice, he organized scouting and camping trips for minors and held meetings in schools and sports clubs, during which time he made observations, including filming and taking photographs. In the RA General Prosecutor’s statement it says that Der-Boghossian, in order to “tempt” the boys, gave them up to 100,000 drams during their first meeting.

According to the RA General Prosecutor’s statement, though Der-Boghossian was initially being persecuted under RA Criminal Code Article 140 (forced violent sexual acts), he is now being charged with Article 139 Section 2 Paragraph 3 (violent sexual acts done against a minor) and Section 3 (“The actions mentioned in part 1 or 2 of this Article done against an aggrieved under 14 years of age”). He faces imprisonment for 4–10 years in case of the former and 8–15 years in case of the latter. The case has now been sent to the Lori District Court of First Instance for consideration.