Jailed Bulgarian Judge Said to Have Been Tapped Illegally

Jailed Bulgarian judge Petar Santirov is said to have been tapped illegally by the investigation, photo by BGNES

Special surveillance devices have been used unlawfully against jailed Bulgarian judge Petar Santirov, said Sofia Court of Appeal Chair, Veselin Pengezov.

Santirov, an acting judge from the Sofia City Court, was arrested at the beginning of April in a police operation together with former Defense Minister Nikolay Tsonev and financial consultant Tencho Popov on bribery charges.

The three are allegedly guilty of bribing investigator Petyo Petrov with EUR 60 000 to forge evidence to lead to a positive outcome for Tsonev in his forthcoming court trial.

Police have received permission for tapping judge Santirov from a magistrate from the Burgas Court of Appeal even though the law sates that such a permit must be obtained from the Sofia Court of Appeal, explained Pengezov on Thursday.

Pengezov's comments come in response to the statement of Bulgaria's Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov that a special surveillance warrant has been received and the tapping is legal.

“The fact that we have asked for permission to use special surveillance devices in the investigation of Petar Santirov from another court shows our lack of trust,” stated Minister Tsetanov and added that his remark was not directed at the Chair of the Sofia City Court, Georgi Kolev.

His statement, however, gave rise to speculations that the Minister's “lack of trust” comment was referring to the Sofia Court of Appeal and its Chair Veselin Pengezov.

On Wednesday, the Sofia City Court left Santirov behind bars. The judge, Vladimir Astradzhiev, said there is reasonable doubt Santirov had committed the crime and is likely to commit a new one, but added there is evidence his former colleague was enticed to participate in the bribe scheme and that investigator Petrov himself might have asked for the money. Last week, Santirov was suspended from his post by Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council.

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