Bulgaria's Interim Chief Prosecutor Complains about Scarcity of Corruption Trials

Domestic | December 17, 2012, Monday // 17:27|  views

Boyko Naydenov, interim Chief Prosecutor and head of Bulgaria's National Investigative Service, has criticized the lack of results in fighting corruption and thefts in 2012. Photo by BGNES

Boyko Naydenov, interim Chief Prosecutor and head of Bulgaria's National Investigative Service, has criticized the lack of results in fighting corruption and thefts in 2012.

Naydenov presented Monday conclusions about his work during the one month in office as interim Chief Prosecutor.

He told journalists that there were only 160 corruption trials in 2012.

"There is a serious deficit in the fight against corruption. No one can convince me that there was just one corruption offence at the customs administration this year," Naydenov said, as cited by dnevnik.bg, adding that drivers complained of being asked for bribes at least once daily at customs control points.

Naydenov informed that 2012 records included only two trials against customs officers, two trials against tax officers, one in the sphere of healthcare, and nine against high-ranking public officials such as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Mayors, District Governors, etc.

He said that his review of the work of the prosecuting authority for 2012 had uncovered an alarming scarcity of investigations in the spheres of corruption and thefts.

Naydenov made clear that he had ordered the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassation to check all inspectorates of institutions to shed light on the small number of corruption tip-offs.

He went on to say that as much as 400 000 theft trials against unknown offenders had been stopped.

"These are 400 00 Bulgarian families who expect that we do something to compensate them. I want this topic to find its way on the agenda in the next few days because it always seems to remain on the back burner," Naydenov added.

He vowed to do everything possible to increase the efficiency of investigations in corruption and household theft cases.

On Thursday, the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) is to elect a Chief Prosecutor, the nominees being Sotir Tsatsarov, head of the Plovdiv District Court, Galina Toneva, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and Borislav Sarafov, head of the Specialized Appellate Prosecutor's Office.

According to reports of mediapool.bg, none of the candidates is likely to get the necessary 17 votes to be elected Chief Prosecutor, in which case there will be a second procedure, Naydenov being a top contender for the post.

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Tags: Chief Prosecutor, Boyko Naydenov, National Investigative Service, Supreme Judicial Council, VSS, Galina Toneva, Sotir Tsatsarov, Borislav Sarafov

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