Friday, June 15 2018 15:28

ArmInfo. A new company instead of currently operating Norfolk Consulting will be established in Armenia, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia David  Ananyan told journalists on June 15.

Ananyan informed that currently the process of dissolution of the  company is underway. At the same time it temporarly conducts its  previous activities (freight forwarding, customs registration of  documents ) under direct control of the Domestic Security Department  of the State Revenue Commitee of Armenia.  Later, a new stock company  with state participation will be established instead of Norfolk,  which will conduct the same functions on more transparent conditions. 

At the same time the Head of the Committee stated that the new  company will not act as monopolist on the services market as the  previous one. On the contrary the aim of establishing a new company  is to demonstrate that the state is ready to take responsibility,  which non-governmental structures can not bear. "By this, we actually  solve the problems of private entrepreneurs, who are physical  entities and have insignificant share on clothes market. This means  that brand or large companies will not enjoy services of Norfolk  company or its successor, only physical entities will benefit",  Ananyan said.

To note, on May 25 the National Security Service of Armenia stated  that it revealed a criminal scheme in the framework of the fight  against corruption and economic crimes.  The large company Norfolk  Consulting Ltd. maliciously avoided paying taxes, fees and other  mandatory payments in especially large amounts. The Service found out  that the representatives of the Norfolk Consulting LLC often did not  declare and did not conduct properly through customs the goods   imported into the republic, thereby underestimating the funds due to   the state budget. In addition, the company created unequal  competitive conditions for citizens who imported the same goods. The  company did not pay about $ 7 million to the state budget, which is  equal to 3.3 billion drams. On the fact a criminal case was initiated  by the investigation department of the National Security Service. The  general director of the Norfolk Consulting LLC Armen Unanian and  three other responsible employees of  the company were arrested on  suspicion of committing a crime under  the article 205, part 2 of the  Criminal Code ("Evasion from payment of taxes, duties or other  compulsory payments") and part 2 of Article 308 ("Abuse of official  powers that entailed grave consequences through negligence") of the  RA Criminal Code.  Until recently, there 7-8 organizations have been  operating in the republic that dealt not only with cargo  transportation, but also with the registration of customs documents.   By establishing "Norfolk Consulting" an attempt was made to  distinguish these actions in order to facilitate customs procedures  at the border for business entities. David Ananian called for  considering the issue solely in the legal format.  It should be noted  that the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan (residence in the  Shengavit administrative district) decided to arrest Simon Arakelyan,  the head of the accounting department of Norfolk Consulting LLC and  Tigran Zohrabyan, chief accountant of the company for 2 months.  According to their lawyer Armen Andrikyan, the court satisfied  petition of the preliminary investigation in respect of his  defendants, choosing detention as a preventive measure.

However, the lawyer intends to appeal the decision of the court  within 10 days. "My clients do not admit their guilt, it is not clear  to us what they are accused of. "The decision of the court does not  clarify for which action they are accused of committing crime, "the  lawyer said.