Luxurious Prison Awaits Notorious Bulgarian Mobster Pair

Angel Hristov (front right) and Plamen Galev (front left), AKA the Galevi Brothers, have been sentenced by the Bulgarian Supreme Court to 4 and 5 years in jail respectively. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian mobsters Plamen Galev and Angel Hristov, better known as "the Galevi brothers", will spend their 5-year prison sentences in a luxurious prison situated just minutes away from their home, according to local media.

The Samoranovo prison facility is located just one kilometer away from the center of the mobsters' hometown of Dupnitsa. Several months ago, repair works worth a total of BGN 200 000 took place at the facility, the local Struma daily says.

According to Struma, prisoners in Samoranovo enjoy certain privileges and are even often seeing taking walks in downtown Dupnitsa. They reportedly have plasma television sets, cell phones and computers with Internet.

On Sunday, Bulgarian Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva announced that inspections will be launched in order to establish whether some prisoners enjoy special privileges. Kovacheva told the Bulgarian National Radio that she will personally attend the inspections.

Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations upheld Thursday the jail sentences of the notorious mobster pair.

The magistrates, however, reduced Galev's sentence by two years and Hristov's by one on grounds they have clean criminal records and are known for charitable activities. Galev will thus serve 5 years behind bars while Hristov will be in jail for 4 years, both on charges of participating in an organized crime group dealing with racket and extortion. The rule is final and cannot be appealed.

In the beginning of July 2011, the Sofia Appellate Court surprisingly reversed the trial against Galevi, sentencing them to a total of 12 years in jail - Plamen Galev to 7 years in prison, and Angel Hristov – to 5.

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