VANADZOR. - The first session of the trial of American-Armenian businessman Serob Ter-Poghosyan accused in pedophilia took place at the Court of First Instance of Lori region on Tuesday. The session took place in closed regime by the decision of the court. 

Hearings were delayed till July 21, Ter-Poghosyan’s attorney Givi Hovhannisyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. 

“I along with another attorney, Tigran Safaryan, accepted the case recently and we need time to get acquainted with the materials of the criminal case,” Hovhannisyan told. 

The accused owns Akhtala Metal Prince mining plant. 

The scandal on Ter Poghosyan arose after the publication on Hetq.am website at the beginning of this year. According to media, there were rumors on a videotape regarding the businessman. However, no one dared to directly accuse the owner of Akhtala mining plant in pedophilia. 

The first person who did it was 25-year-old Vahram Parsadanyan who tried to blackmail the businessman. Police arrested him and the latter presented the videotape to police. Among other victims of the businessman from Diaspora were several boys, who play in the football team sponsored by the businessman. 

Criminal case was instituted for pedophilia, as some victims were underage. Serob Ter-Poghosyan is charged on 140 and 139 articles of Criminal Code of Armenia. The Prosecutor’s office confirmed the charge, and the criminal case was passed to the Court of First Instance of Lori region.