Epress.am News from Armenia
An Armenian court has issued a decision to impose pre-trial detention on three high-ranking Defense Ministry officials who were arrested on May 30 as part of two separate abuse of power investigations led by the country's law-enforcement authorities, the press service of Armenia's Investigative Committee said Friday.
Major General Mels Chilingaryan, the former head of the ministry's Armament Department, along with Colonels Mher Papyan and Armen Margaryan, is believed to have abused his official powers which entailed “grave consequences.”
“According to preliminary investigation, the aforementioned persons have acquired through abuse of their official position various kinds of goods at above-market prices; in some cases, these purchases were unnecessary,” the statement said.
In particular, according to the law enforcement agency, an unneeded 145 million drams (more than US$ 303 thousand) worth contract was signed by the officials with [an unnamed private company] for the supply of spare parts at exorbitant prices. The officials face imprisonment for up to 13 years, if found guilty.