First Suspect for Sofia Car Arsons Released on Own Recognizance

Two of the three suspects for the wave of car arsons which hit Sofia in December have been released. Photo by BGNES

The Sofia City Court has released 33-year-old Vladislav Nikolov-Kukata, the first suspect detained for the spate of car arsons in the capital, on his own recognizance.

Nikolov was arrested on December 13 on suspicions of torching three cars in the Zapaden Park residential district in Sofia.

The court's motives for the imposed measure of remand revolved around the lack of sufficient direct evidence indicating that he had carried out the offence.

Indirect evidence against him only included traces of gasoline and diesel on his hands.

The bottle found near the burnt cars in Zapaden Park, which had been filled with some sort of fuel, could not be linked to Nikolov because it had no traces of his fingerprints.

Nikolov's lawyer insisted that he had been arrested to alleviate social pressure.

The 33-year-old man had an alibi because he had been with his girlfriend at the time of the arsons.

The decision of the Sofia City Court is final.

Three days ago, the court released on bail Radoslav Stoyanov, 27, the third suspect arrested in connection with the arsons.

On Thursday, Yulian Kovachki, 29, was remanded in custody on suspicions of burning 12 cars.

Over 40 cars have been burned in Sofia since end-November.

The wave of arsons spilled over to other parts in the country, including Burgas, Kyustendil and Silistra.

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