YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Judicial investigation of the Mellat case ended Tuesday. In his report–Prosecutor Mikael Grigorian petitioned for defendants Alexander Matevossian and Samvel Ajapakhian be convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison to be served in a high-security prison. The prosecutor had found valid the bribery charge (count 185–part 2) presented by investigation agencies. The prosecutor also petitioned for the charges on count 185–part 3 brought against defendant Hovhannes Melikian be altered to count 206–"misprision of felony." He requested that Melikian be sentenced to three years in prison.
The prosecution said the charge on count 185 brought against defendant Melikian is groundless. Moreover–during the preliminary and later judicial investigation it was proven that Ajapakhian had lent $4,000 to Melikian–while the investigation alleges that the defendant received the sum as his share from the accepted bribe.
The defense is scheduled to present its remarks at the next scheduled hearing on January 19.
