Bulgaria's Top Prosecutor: We Are Not Cabinet's Legal Council

Domestic | September 2, 2010, Thursday // 12:30|  views

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, says prosecutors should not be expected to work on everything that gets thrown across their desks and they should not be required to establish a crime on their own. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, stated Thursday he is yet to receive the audits of the power utilities from the energy watchdog DKEVR.

Velchev told reporters he has been expecting those audits for two days now, and would read them carefully, but presently he could not figure out the role of his office in the matter.

On Tuesday, the Head of the State Commission for Energy and Water regulation (DKEVR), Angel Semerdzhiev, announced the audits of the three power utilities have already been sent to the Prosecutor's Office.

The audits, which found a number of violations on the part of Austrian-owned EVN, German-owned E.ON and Czech-owned CEZ, were prepared in July 2010, in the eve of the approval of new electric power prices for the next year. The three power utilities were blamed then by the energy watchdog of draining revenues by outsourcing through affiliate businesses.

At the time, Semerdzhiev stated he did not intend to give the results to the prosecutor, and would do so only if the latter becomes interested in them. Later, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, declared at a special media press conference that he had ordered their submission with the Prosecutor's Office.

The Chief Prosecutor further said Thursday that he would return the audits to the sender if they do not contain any incriminating evidence, pointing out the Prosecutor's Office should not be looked upon as the State's legal council in all matters. One should not expect from prosecutors to work on everything that gets thrown across their desks and they should not be required to establish a crime on their own, according to Velchev.

On another topic, the Chief Prosecutor reported that the Inspectorate at the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassations has launched a probe in connection to the tax declaration of Deputy Sofia City Prosecutor, Roman Vasilev, where he reported revenues of BGN 80 000 from stock exchange deals.

The probe was triggered by an investigative report from the beginning of July in which journalist Sasho Dikov voiced suspicions the stock exchange gains were actually a way to legalize bribes.

Velchev explained there are other public figures declaring similar profits, and there is nothing illegal in investing in stocks.

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Tags: Boris Velchev, Chief Prosecutor, Roman Vasilev, Angel Semerdzhiev, audits, power utility, Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister, electricity, electricity distribution companies, electricity providers, CEZ, EVN, EON, State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, DKEVR

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