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Village Mayor Accused of Raping 14-Year-Old Arrested
03.07.2012 10:31 epress.am
Azat Ghukasyan, mayor of the village of Hartashen in the southern
Armenian province of Syunik, was arrested Tuesday evening, reports
Hetq Online, citing its source in the police force.
The news outlet was unable officially to confirm the news which it
received after work hours, but the uncle of the 14-year-old girl
allegedly raped by Ghukasyan said that an acquaintance also informed
him the mayor was arrested.
Recall, Ghukasyan also teaches physical education at the local school.
Late last month, several students claimed that Ghukasyan asked
14-year-old Karine (her name has been changed) to follow him to the
gym. Gagik, Karine's uncle, said this wasn't the first time the
teacher had singled out Karine, who has an intellectual disability.
One of the female students followed the pair and peaked through the
key hole, Gagik continued. Horrified at what she saw, she ran for
help. The teachers came but were too afraid to open the door, Hetq
Online had reported earlier. Gagik says the teachers knew what was
happening but `thought it best to let the incident pass.'
Syunik regional police have since filed criminal proceedings under
charges of RA Criminal Code Article 142 Section 1 (`lecherous acts
with a person obviously under 16³).
The mayor insists that he neither raped nor sexually assaulted Karine
in any way. However, the results of the investigation, it seems, have
proved otherwise.
Recall, according to Hetq Online, this isn't the first time that Azat
Ghukasyan has been implicated in such a case. Unconfirmed reports
allege that Ghukasyan was dismissed from the job of school principal
in the past for sexual misconduct with female students.
From: A. Papazian
03.07.2012 10:31 epress.am
Azat Ghukasyan, mayor of the village of Hartashen in the southern
Armenian province of Syunik, was arrested Tuesday evening, reports
Hetq Online, citing its source in the police force.
The news outlet was unable officially to confirm the news which it
received after work hours, but the uncle of the 14-year-old girl
allegedly raped by Ghukasyan said that an acquaintance also informed
him the mayor was arrested.
Recall, Ghukasyan also teaches physical education at the local school.
Late last month, several students claimed that Ghukasyan asked
14-year-old Karine (her name has been changed) to follow him to the
gym. Gagik, Karine's uncle, said this wasn't the first time the
teacher had singled out Karine, who has an intellectual disability.
One of the female students followed the pair and peaked through the
key hole, Gagik continued. Horrified at what she saw, she ran for
help. The teachers came but were too afraid to open the door, Hetq
Online had reported earlier. Gagik says the teachers knew what was
happening but `thought it best to let the incident pass.'
Syunik regional police have since filed criminal proceedings under
charges of RA Criminal Code Article 142 Section 1 (`lecherous acts
with a person obviously under 16³).
The mayor insists that he neither raped nor sexually assaulted Karine
in any way. However, the results of the investigation, it seems, have
proved otherwise.
Recall, according to Hetq Online, this isn't the first time that Azat
Ghukasyan has been implicated in such a case. Unconfirmed reports
allege that Ghukasyan was dismissed from the job of school principal
in the past for sexual misconduct with female students.
From: A. Papazian