OSKANYAN LAWYERS CLAIM MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES TRUMPED UP

tert.am
02.10.12

It is impossible to prove any evidence of crime without talking to the
settlor, an expert in international law said today at a news conference
devoted to the money laundering case against the Civilitas foundation.

Nicholas Koumjian, who was the chief prosecutor in the trial of
Liberia’s former president, wondered why the General Prosecutor’s
Office has not made inquiries from the Huntsman family, which had
sent the donation to ex-Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan, the founder
of Civilitas.

Armenia’s National Assembly will continue today the debate over
Prosecutor General Vartan Oskanyan’s petition to involve Oskanyan in
the money laundering charges against Civilitas.

The US-Armenian prosecutor claimed that the possibility of crime has
to be ruled out unless the Huntsman family, which acted as a settlor,
insists that their donations were used for purposes other than they
envisaged.

Speaking in parliament on Monday, Hovsepyan said that a September 12
letter by the Huntsmans does not clearly state whether Oskanyan was
allowed to use the money at his own discretion, and what’s even more,
spend it for personal purposes. Responding to the prosecutor general
Oskanyan said that the sum had been transferred to him without any
time limitation. The ex-foreign minister admitted that had left only
a certain amount in the bank as a deposit.

Hailing the incumbent and former officials’ initiative to launch
probes into certain matter Kuyumjyan in the meantime warned against
abusing the criminal law or inventing accusations in the interests
of political purposes.

Tigran Atanesyan, who represents the Civilitas’ interests, said the
foundation was aware of the shifts in the deposited sums.

Asked why the ex-foreign minister came to be accused of money
laundering, he said, “Why money laundering? Because it is an article
that contains a very dirty crime, which is reproved and never forgiven,
spotting a person’s career and good reputation,”

The term is widely popular among Armenia’s law-enforces, who are very
prone to apply it to any money they do not lke, he added.

The lawyers agreed that the inquest body cannot submit any evidence
that Oskanyan was involved in a criminal offence.

Kuyumjyan said further that the timing (May 25) was no accident as
it was the day the Prosperous Armenia Party (of which Oskanyan is a
member) declared its intention of not joining the ruling coalition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress