The preliminary investigation under the criminal proceedings initiated as a result of the activities carried out by the operative-investigation department of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia established that two chief operative investigators of the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia received bribes from business entities in the amount of AMD 1,500,000 for not recording violations of tax legislation requirements by them.
In particular, the preliminary investigation established that senior operative investigator K.A., as a result of studies carried together with his colleague, senior operative investigator V.A., in October 2023, discovered signs of apparent violations of tax legislation requirements by a private entrepreneur related to sales turnover. In this regard, in order not to carry out operative investigation activities, as well as to facilitate evasion of responsibility in the event of possible violations during further inspections, the above-mentioned SRC officials demanded from the entrepreneur and on December 29, 2023 received from him AMD 1,000,000 as a bribe, sharing the amount among themselves.
In addition, the said officials also discovered signs of apparent violation of tax laws within the period from October to December 2023 in a company that was actually owned by another entrepreneur, this time in terms of withholdings from salaries paid.
Afterwards, the above-mentioned entrepreneur turned to his friend, a former SRC employee A.H., for support in solving the problem. A.H., in his turn, addressed to the aforementioned chief operative investigator K.A., who demanded a bribe for illegal inaction in favor of the owner of the company, for not carrying out operative-investigation activities in connection with apparent violations, for not taking measures to hold the company to liability, in the amount of AMD 500,000 from A.H. The latter accepted the bribe offer and promised to pay the required amount.
For receiving a bribe, the chief operative investigators of the State Revenue Committee K.A. and V.A. were charged under Article 435, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code, and A. H. and one of the entrepreneurs - under Article 436, Part 2, Clause 3 and Article 436, Part 2, Clauses 2 and 3 of the RA Criminal Code, respectively, for paying bribes to SRC officials.
As a measure of restriction, arrest was applied against K.A.
The preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings has been completed; the materials of the proceedings have been sent to the court with an indictment for consideration on the merits.
Notification. the person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code by a verdict entered into legal force.
