BRIBERY TRIAL OF MINISTRY OFFICIALS POSTPONED; WITNESSES A
Ararat Davtyan
an/
2010/03/02 | 15:04
court
The trial of two top former officials in the RoA Ministry of Nature
Protection on bribery charges, was cancelled today. None the six
subpoenaed witness or the Prosecuting Attorney showed up at the
Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court.
The two officials, Tigran Grigoryan, who headed the Ministry’s
Environmental Inspectorate, and Arsen Petrosyan, his deputy, have
been indicted for demanding a 400,000 AMD bribe from Vardan Aslanyan,
Director of "Delta Fragment", a firm that operates a clay and basalt
mine. The bribe was to cover up certain environmental violations and
to cut the penalties to be paid.
In addition, the two officials also face charges of conspiring to
extort 5 million AMD from the Akhtala Mining Enrichment Company
in order that the Ministry extend the deadline for the completion
of a water distribution system along the Nahatak River in the
Ayrum-Tchotchkan valley in Lori. The Akhtala Mining Company belongs
to Serob Ter-Petrosyan, an advisor to Prime Minister Sargsyan.
At today’s court session, lawyers for the two sacked officials merely
declared that their clients have declared that they are innocent of
the charges. One of the defense lawyers, Samvel Mirzoyan, said that
he would present remarkable and convincing proof of this during course
of the trial.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
