Press release by the Prosecutor General's Office
Studying the materials provided by the National Security Service, RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan has instigated a criminal case for bribes taken by head of the "Goris" penitentiary Armen Petrosyan (228,000 drams) and senior prosecutor Lernik Khachatryan (190,000 drams), as well as deputy head of the "Goris" penitentiary Karo Zadoyan's attempt to take bribe in large amount.
Based on studies of the materials prepared by the NSS, it turned out that citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran Heros Bagrat-Masihi Nersisian is under persecution by the United Arab Emirates and is charged with preparing false credit cards. In 2009, he came to Armenia on August 26, 2009, was arrested by the officers from the Meghri police division and transferred to the "Goris" penitentiary of the RA Ministry of Justice.
Bagrat-Masihi Teymuri Nersisian came to Armenia to create medical documents and bail him out of jail. He met with senior prosecutor of the RA Prosecutor General's office and came to an agreement to bail his son out for 12,000 dollars.
Senior prosecutor Lernik Khachatryan sent Bagrat Nersisian to head of the "Goris" penitentiary Armen Petrosyan who demanded 228,000 dram bribe for preparing medical documents and transferring his Bagrat's son to the "Prisoners' Hospital" penitentiary. By demand of Lernik Khachatryan, an unknown person transferred 190,000 drams to Lernik Khachatryan, after which Heros Nersisian was transferred to the "Prisoners' Hospital" penitentiary.
After being in prison for 58 days, Heros Nersisian was released on October 22, 2009 and his signature to not leave the country was taken as a precautionary measure. After his release, Heros Nersisian and his father met with deputy head of the "Goris" penitentiary Karo Zadoyan and were obligated to give 6,000 dollars from the 12,000 dollars to Karo Zadoyan after a while.
By the decision of the RA Prosecutor General, a criminal case has been brought up based on Part 2, Article 312 of the RA Criminal Code, as well as the 2nd, 3rd points of Part 3 of Article 311, as well as 2nd point of Part 4, the case examination has been assigned to the investigative department of the RA National Security Service. On the same day, guided by the 6th point, Part 1 of Article 10 of the RA law on "Prosecution", 1st point, Article 30 and 1st point, Part 1 of Article 49, the RA Prosecutor General has terminated the powers of Lernik Khachatryan until the approval of the final decision on the case.
As a result of the preliminary investigative measures, head of the "Goris" penitentiary A. Petrosyan and deputy head K. Zadoyan, 3rd degree expert of the medical service department of the same penitentiary G. Ghavalbabunts, citizens of Iran Heros Bagrat-Masihi Nersisian and his father are arrested, and the investigative department of the RA National Security Service has been assigned to carry out all trials as required for the criminal case examination for senior prosecutor Lernik Khachatryan.
