Bulgarian Court Sets Record High Bail for Alleged Varna Criminal

Shady businessman Daniel Slavov aka Dido Dunkata is suspected of organizing contraband cigarette channels in the Varna area. Photo by BGNES

The Regional Court in the Black Sea city of Varna released on a record-high bail of BGN 200 000 shady businessman Daniel Slavov aka Dido Dunkata.

Dankata was arrested in his own hotel “Capitol” at the end of March during a special police operation codenamed “Jellyfish” alongside the Chair of Varna's Municipal Council, Borislav Gutsanov, the Director of the Varna municipality ‘Autotransport’ Department, Pencho Penchev and Yana Krusteva, the Department’s Chief Accountant.

The arrests came on allegations of a number of crimes, including the masterminding of a crime gang, involving high-ranking officials, embezzlement and malfeasance in office, forging of documents, and abuse of taxpayers’ money, namely for deals to purchase second-hand buses which were later sold to Varna's public transportation at much higher prices.

Gutsanov, a top member of the Bulgarian Socialist party, was removed from the post at the end of April, and was recently released on house arrest. He has repeatedly said that the trial against him is political and has denied having any business operations with Daniel Slavov aka Dido Dunkata, who is suspected of organizing contraband cigarette channels in the Varna area.

Slavov cannot be set free before the Appellate Court rules on the bail if the Prosecutor in the case decides to appeal the decision of the Regional Court.

The Varna magistrates said they are releasing Slavov because they believe it is unlikely he will hide or commit another crime and because Dankata gives jobs to 1 100 people in Varna.

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