18 Bulgaria Magistrates Face Legal Action over Alleged Corruption

Domestic | November 19, 2009, Thursday // 13:59|  views

Bulgaria's court system is shaken by a corruption scandal involving violations of the ethical code of magistrates. File Photo

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) announced Thursday the last 13 names of magistrates who have been tangled in the so-called scandal with Krasio from Pleven.

Krasimir Georgiev aka “Krasio from Pleven” is an individual who, allegedly, offered magistrates to secure their appointment to high ranking positions through the vote of the VSS in exchange for EUR 200 000 in cash.

VSS also announced that legal proceedings have been initiated against 18 of the judges and prosecutors who are proven to have been in contact with Georgiev.

17 are magistrates who have had two-way contacts with Krasimir Georgiev and have competed for high-ranking positions within the Bulgarian judicial system. The 18th is the judge from the District Court in the Black Sea capital of Varna, Stoyan Popov, who had applied for several positions, had not been elected as Chair of the District Court, but had made and received phone calls from Krasio.

Another 6 prosecutors and judges have been proven to have had between 5 and 33 two-way phone calls with Krasio but they did not apply for high-level judicial assignments. The VSS informs there isn't any evidence those phone calls have been connected to any job applications or professional activities, thus there is no reason to initiate legal proceedings against the six.

The third group involves 4 magistrates who received phone calls from Krasio, but never dialed him. The Chair of the Sofia District Court, Georgi Kolev is among the 4; he had a total of 3 phone conversations with Georgiev.

The last group includes 2 magistrates whose phone numbers have been saved in Krasio's cell phone, but contacts have never been made.

The VSS decided to resume appointments of magistrates beginning Friday and to conclude the legal proceedings in the shortest possible time frame.

In addition to the magistrates, it was revealed Wednesday that 4 former and current Members of the Parliament also had contacts with Krasio.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: Boris Velchev, Nikolay Kokinov, Ivan Kolev, Krasio, vote buying, Supreme Judicial Council, Milen Velchev, Margarita Popova, MPs, DPS, BSP, Bulgarian Socialist Party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, ethnic Turkish, Lyutvi Mestan, Kiril Dobrev, Yane Yanev

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search