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FORMER KALMYKIA SENATOR PLEADS NOT GUILTY
ITAR-TASS
Nov 14 2007
Russia
MOSCOW, November 14 (Itar-Tass) - Former senator from Kalmykia Levon
Chakhmakhchian, accused of stealing 1.5 million dollars belonging to
the Transaero company pleaded, not guilty at the Moscow City Court
on Tuesday, which began substantive hearings of his case.
"The court began a hearing today and the prosecutor read the main
points of the indictment. All the defendants then stated their
innocence," Alexander Sadukov, a lawyer of one of the defendants,
told Itar-Tass.
Apart from the ex-senator from Kalmykia, the defendants include
inspector of the Audit Chamber Armen Oganesian (Chakhmakhchian's
son-in-law) and Igor Arushanov, chief accountant of the non-government
Association of Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation, chaired by
Chakhmakhchian.
The court turned down several appeals by the defense, including a
change in the measure of restraint for the defendant, jurisdiction
of the case and a return of materials of the case to the Russian
Prosecutor-General's Office.
The trial is held in camera, since materials of the case contain
secret information.
On Tuesday, after the statements by the state prosecutor and lawyers,
the court set the procedure of examining proofs. The prosecutor was
to have begun to question an injured party, but he did not turn up
for the hearing.
The next session is due on November 21.
In April 2006, officers of the Audit Chamber carried out an inspection
of Moscow's Domodedovo Customs House and found out that Transaero
allegedly illegally enjoyed privileges to release it from paying
customs duties and tax charges while importing temporarily aircraft,
spares and engines to them to Russia. In the opinion of inspectors,
the sum, underpaid to the budget totaled 7.3 billion roubles over
these violations.
According to the investigation, the defendants suggested resolving the
alleged problems (for "a remuneration"), connected with payments of
taxes and customs duties to the budget. The prosecution claimed that
Chakhmakhchian, using his office, exploited the situation, suggesting
(for 1.5 million dollars) striking out information from the Audit
Chamber inspection act on demands to Transaero to make customs duties.
The bulk of money was to be transferred under forged contracts to
accounts of false firms, and 300,000 dollars were supposed to be
handed over in cash. Security officers detained Chakhmakhchian,
Arushanov, Oganesian and other participants in the organized group
while receiving this sum.
ITAR-TASS
Nov 14 2007
Russia
MOSCOW, November 14 (Itar-Tass) - Former senator from Kalmykia Levon
Chakhmakhchian, accused of stealing 1.5 million dollars belonging to
the Transaero company pleaded, not guilty at the Moscow City Court
on Tuesday, which began substantive hearings of his case.
"The court began a hearing today and the prosecutor read the main
points of the indictment. All the defendants then stated their
innocence," Alexander Sadukov, a lawyer of one of the defendants,
told Itar-Tass.
Apart from the ex-senator from Kalmykia, the defendants include
inspector of the Audit Chamber Armen Oganesian (Chakhmakhchian's
son-in-law) and Igor Arushanov, chief accountant of the non-government
Association of Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation, chaired by
Chakhmakhchian.
The court turned down several appeals by the defense, including a
change in the measure of restraint for the defendant, jurisdiction
of the case and a return of materials of the case to the Russian
Prosecutor-General's Office.
The trial is held in camera, since materials of the case contain
secret information.
On Tuesday, after the statements by the state prosecutor and lawyers,
the court set the procedure of examining proofs. The prosecutor was
to have begun to question an injured party, but he did not turn up
for the hearing.
The next session is due on November 21.
In April 2006, officers of the Audit Chamber carried out an inspection
of Moscow's Domodedovo Customs House and found out that Transaero
allegedly illegally enjoyed privileges to release it from paying
customs duties and tax charges while importing temporarily aircraft,
spares and engines to them to Russia. In the opinion of inspectors,
the sum, underpaid to the budget totaled 7.3 billion roubles over
these violations.
According to the investigation, the defendants suggested resolving the
alleged problems (for "a remuneration"), connected with payments of
taxes and customs duties to the budget. The prosecution claimed that
Chakhmakhchian, using his office, exploited the situation, suggesting
(for 1.5 million dollars) striking out information from the Audit
Chamber inspection act on demands to Transaero to make customs duties.
The bulk of money was to be transferred under forged contracts to
accounts of false firms, and 300,000 dollars were supposed to be
handed over in cash. Security officers detained Chakhmakhchian,
Arushanov, Oganesian and other participants in the organized group
while receiving this sum.