Sofia Court Reduces Road Fund Employees' Bribe Sentences

The building of the Courts of Law in downtown Sofia. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Sofia Appellate Court reduced Thursday the sentences of the two former Road Fund employees charged with corruption.

Ivan Vladimirov received a 4-year sentence instead of the 5-year one, while Vladimir Lilov was acquitted of the charge.

The Sofia City Court previously sentenced the two for asking architect Georgi Yanev for BGN 50 000 to change the status of a land plot so that it can be used for construction. The architect notified the Prosecutor's Office and the two were arrested with marked bills while receiving half of the bribe.

Vladimirov called the trial a farce and claimed he was involved in the case so that his boss, Lilov, would receive a reduced sentence, adding he was a victim and had nothing to do with the bribe schemes at the Fund.