YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–At Wednesday’s hearing of the "Nairit" case the court continued considering the petition of the lawyers of the former director of the "Nairit" research-and-production association–Gagik Nersissian–for the discontinuance of the prosecution of their client. Since no criminal proceedings were initiated against Nersissian–his being in custody is illegal–the lawyers say. Director of the "AGAN" Ltd. Hambartsum Sargssian was initially charged with tax evasion. Later–without new criminal proceedings being initiated–Nersissian was charged with huge embezzlemen’s. The Prosecution then objected to the petition–pointing out that a decision on initiating a new criminal case is made if–in addition to the aforementioned crime–a new crime was disclosed which was committed without the defendant’s participation.
Although at the previous court sitting all the parties repeatedly expressed their opinions of the matter–the discussion of the petition was continued after a two-day interval. The prosecutor Artur Mkrtichian said–"Since the Defense has not added anything new–I have nothing to add either." Finally–the court rejected the petition.
The lawyers presented a new petition for the case being remitted for further examination. After a long discussion–the court rejected the petition–the reason for the rejection being in that the final part of the bill of indictment–including the essence of the charges brought against the defendants–was not read out. Nevertheless–the Defense promised to present new petitions at Friday’s sitting.