The appeals case of Zhora Grigoryan, former head of the Karvatchar municipality in the Shahoumyan district of the NKR and director of the "Transkar" firm, got underway yesterday. Mr. Grigoryan was sentenced by a lower court to five years on charges of "large-scale embezzlement and misappropriation" of funds and property. "Transkar" accountant Karineh Petrosyan was also fined 700,000 AMD and prohibited from government employment for a period of 18 months on similar charges and misuse of her position. The two filed their petition with the NKR Appeals Court and are seeking an overturning of the lower court's sentence. Also filing an appeal is Sergey Baghramyan, Public Prosecutor for the Shahoumyan district. He argues that the five year sentence given Mr. Grigoryan is too lenient and is seeking a seven year sentence. The court heard the arguments of both sides and is scheduled to announce its decision on August 11.