26/04/2013 17:27
SIS decides not to open criminal case based on torture statements
The Special Investigation Service of Armenia decided not to open a criminal case based on the statements about the use of torture during the preliminary investigation into the murder of S. Zatikian, the son of former head of Malatia-Sebastia district in Yerevan. Pastinfo news agency was informed by SIS that the abovementioned decision was taken in accordance with Article 1 point 1 of Armenia’s Criminal Procedure Code, due to the absence of a criminal event.
The court of general jurisdiction of Malatia-Sebastia district had filed a letter, in which it asked to check the validity of statements made by witnesses Aharon Hakobian, Aramais Sedrakian and Arthur Hovhannisian who was convicted of the murder. The men claimed that during the preliminary investigation, SIS employees tortured, threatened and beat them, kept them illegally in a police station, and extracted evidence not corresponding to reality.