Ex-defense minister denied bail by anti-corruption court

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan will remain jailed after the Anti-Corruption Court ruled that he should be denied bail, Tonoyan’s lawyer Sergey Hovhannisyan said.

Tonoyan’s lawyer had requested the court to release him on a 35 million dram bail bond.

The court argued that if released, Tonoyan could pressure witnesses.

Tonoyan is jailed in pre-trial detention for over a year on corruption charges. He is charged with fraud and embezzlement that cost the state almost 2.3 billion drams ($4.7 million) in what authorities said was an acquisition of outdated rockets for the military during Tonoyan’s tenure as defense minister.

Tonoyan denies wrongdoing.