Armenian Ex-Bailiffs Chief Investigated After Panama Leak

YEREVAN -- Armenia's Special Investigative Service has launched a probe into the activities of the former chief of the State Bailiffs Service in connection with alleged links to offshore companies.

The service said on May 3 that Major General Migran Pogosian was facing charges of "illegal business activities" and could be jailed for up to two years if convicted.

Pogosian resigned on April 18 after his name was published in media reports about the Panama Papers corruption scandal.

More than 11 million documents known as the Panama Papers have been the basis for dozens of international news articles detailing shady financial transactions involving officials around the world.

The Armenian investigative journalism website Hetq.am has published documents that appear to link Pogosian to three Panama-registered companies -- Sigtem Real Estates, Hopkinten Trading, and Bango Invest.