The administrative head of Sipanik village in Armenia’s Ararat Province and his son have been arrested in connection with alleged unauthorized fish farming.
According to police, officers from the Masis Community Police received information that fish farming was being conducted within the village’s administrative boundaries without the required authorization.
During an inspection on October 22, law enforcement officers found four fish ponds built on leased agricultural land. Investigators allege that the village official and his son operated the ponds using water pumped from a deep well at a rate of 40 liters per second without a water-use permit.
Preliminary estimates put the resulting damage to the state at more than 17 million Armenian drams. Part of the amount has already been compensated.
The two men were transferred with the case materials to the Masis Investigative Division, where criminal proceedings were initiated.
