Two anti-corruption agents arrested in Armenia in suspicion of CORRUPTION

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service (NSS) has arrested two officials from the State Control Service in suspicion of corruption.

The NSS said in a news release that it had launched a criminal case on February 20 after receiving intelligence reports on possible misconduct committed by officials from the State Control Service, a body under the PM’s office that is tasked to carry out supervision and oversight at governmental agencies.

The two suspects are the interim director of the Procurement Process Oversight Department and a Senior Specialist of the same department.

They are suspected in meddling in procurement processes organized for subjects under their jurisdiction of control, namely the healthcare ministry and several medical centers. The NSS said the two suspects have interfered in the process in order for a company affiliated with them to be awarded a contract for supply in announced tenders. The tender was announced to choose a company that will provide medical equipment.

According to the NSS, the two officials would threaten their targets in the event of being rejected to carry out their illegal tasks.

A businessmen affiliated with the two officials provided fake quality documents regarding the supplied equipment and the suspects falsified paperwork to reach their goal.

The NSS said the fraudulent activities have also jeopardized safety of patients who would later use the equipment.

The two officials of the State Control Service, as well as the businessman affiliated with them, have been arrested on February 25. The NSS pressed criminal charges against all three and a court has granted a pre-trial detention period for the suspects.

The NSS said they continue investigating the case.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan