Epress.am News from Armenia
Four witnesses were examined in court today in the high-profile trial of former RA Traffic Police Chief Margar Ohanyan, and also named as the accused, former battalion commander Stepan Karakhanyan, and traffic police employees Ara Levonyan and Samvel Makhmuryan. Recall, they are accused of embezzling approx. 2,500 tons of gasoline that was set aside for traffic police vehicles.
One of the witnesses, Yerevan Traffic Police Department battalion commander Yeghishe Yengibaryan, testified that he received 350 liters of gasoline a month and he signed for as much as he received.
Prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan then asked Yengibaryan whether employees ever complained of the lack of gasoline. The witness said there weren’t any complaints, but he heard rumors that employees had such issues — just not with him.
The prosecutor pointed out that there were discrepancies between Yengibaryan’s testimony given in court and the one he gave during the investigation and motioned to show the judge the witness’ testimony given during the investigation, which the judge granted. During his pre-trial testimony, Yengibaryan had apparently said his employees are, in fact, displeased with the less fuel and that management was aware of this.
Yengibaryan, in his defense, said there was a misunderstanding, since during his pre-trial testimony he had said that he only heard rumors of such complaints and that he personally didn’t have such problems.
The next three witnesses, Yurik Hovhannisyan, Seryozha Hakobyan and Karo Karapetyan, testified that they received less gasoline but signed for more than they received. When they took up their concerns with former battalion commander Stepan Karakhanyan on this matter, he said in exchange they will receive tires and spare automotive parts and the difference in gasoline would be supplemented.
The next court date is set for Feb. 2 at 11:30 am.