The Kotayk Province Court of General Jurisdiction on Thursday granted the investigator’s petition and ruled to take into custody for two months businessman Robert Manukyan—the brother of former MP, businessman Melik Manukyan—a.k.a. Shshi (glass bottle) Melo. Manukyan’s attorney, Hovsep Sargsyan, told about this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Robert Manukyan has been charged with using violence against a representative of the authorities, and obstruction of justice and investigation.
Manukyan is accused of beating six police officers while they were detaining him. He was detained on August 3, on suspicion of prompting to unlawfully remove from the scene the Range Rover reportedly belonging to his brother Melik Manukyan, after the blast that occurred on the Yerevan-Sevan motorway.
The explosion had occurred on August 2, nearby the glass container manufacturing plant belonging to Melik Manukyan.
After the blast, law enforcement officers were working at the scene when Melik Manukyan’s aforesaid vehicle was unlawfully removed from the scene; but it was returned shortly thereafter. In this connection, charges were brought against Robert Manukyan, and Markos Markosyan who is already in custody.
The investigation into this blast is conducted pursuant to the Criminal Code articles on attempted murder and possession of explosives. Three people are arrested on these charges.