The KGB: Investigation of the Knyrovich Case Continues. Tax Audit Is in Progress

A well-known businessman faces imprisonment for up to seven years with or without confiscation of property.

The case of businessman Aliaksandr Knyrovich detained this January and accused of tax evasion in especially big amount is investigated; a tax audit is in progress. The KGB's official representative Dzmitry Pabyarzhyn informed tut.by.

"Upon completion of the tax audit the case will be referred to the prosecutor to send it to court," Pabyarzhyn noted.

Knyrovich is charged with Article 243 para. 2 of the Criminal Code. According to journalists, he remains in custody.

Sanctions under this article provide for imprisonment for up to seven years with or without confiscation of property.

It will be recalled that on January 27 the KGB informed of detention of the businessman. According to the agency, since 2014 representatives of OOO SarmatTermo-Engineering (STE) have provided "contract" exchange trades to sell expensive products - pre-insulated pipes (PI pipes) - by underhand means and bribery of executives and officials of utilities and energy companies.

Aliaksandr Knyrovich is the founder and director of SarmatTermo-Engineering.

The registration of "contract" trades and their conduct through the exchange were carried out by certified brokers who worked for the management of the STE, and who also received illegal fees - 2-3% of the transaction price (enterprise officials - up to 7.5%), the siloviki say.

"In this case, the amount of "kick-backs" was pawned by the firm into the cost of production, the inflated price was subsequently taken into account when setting utility tariffs, i.e. in fact, the profit of businessmen and bribes of officials were paid at the expense of the population," the KGB informs.

"On January 24-26, 2017 heads and officials of state organizations A. Zhur (GUPP "Byaroza Housing and Communal Services"), A. Klets (RUP "Brestenergo"), I. Stsishenok (KPUP "Gomeloblteploseti"), M. Avdeichuk and N. Danilovich (UPTK KUP "Brestzhilstroy") were taken with the mainour when other bribetaking in the amount of more than 20 thousand rubles for assistance in promoting SarmatTermo-Engineering products. At the same time, broker A. Kaltunou (director of OOO Anshans Plus) who represented interests of KPUP Gomeloblteploset and RUP Svisloch Housing was detained, the message says.

With respect to these persons, criminal proceedings have been initiated under Art. 430 (bribetaking) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Knyrovich's deputies on Commercial Issues Papousiy and on Finance and Economics Maksimau, who organized the transfer of money are held liable under Art. 431 (Bribery) of the CC of Belarus.

Taking into account materials received about tax evasion of SarmatTermo-Engineering amounting to at least 2.8 million rubles, on January 25 Knyrovich, Maksimau and Papouski, co-founder Dashkevich, leading economist Kuskou and leading foreign economic expert Kazlouskaya were detained.