Armenia’s Armavir Provincial Court today sentenced Shahoumyan community mayor Artour Yoyloyan to five years and six months for the improper expenditure of local budgetary resources and for forging official documents.

The sentence, however, was voided on condition that Yoyloyan undergo a one-year probationary period.

The court sanctioned the seizure of 5.336 million AMD of Yoyloyan’s assets as material compensation for the crime.

Prior to today’s verdict, the mayor had paid back 2.3 million to the community’s coffers.

The court found that between 2008-2016 Yoyloyan had created several non-existent job postings and that salaries were paid to the individuals registered as employees.

One of the non-existent posts went to Yoyloyan’s wife Mariam, who was registered as the community’s librarian.

From January 3, 2008 to November 5, 2016, she received 5.279 million in wages.

Two other Shahoumyan residents, Kima and Karineh Khachatryan listed on the books as gardeners, received 330,000 and 478,690 AMD respectively in wages.

Yoyloyan, who pleaded guilty to the charges, had been charged with similar offenses before becoming Shahoumyan mayor.

The mayor had received a positive review from Armavir Provincial Governor Ashot Ghahramanyan.