Bulgarian Sentenced to 11 Y Jail in Romania for Espionage

A Bulgarian man has been sentenced in Romania for espionage and for participating in the establishment of a criminal group. File photo

Bulgarian consultant Stamen Stanchev has received in Romania the harshest sentence in the so-called "strategic privatization" case.

Stanchev was charged with creating an industrial espionage network, whose goal was to obtain key documentation pertaining to the privatization of strategic industrial assets in order to win consultancy contracts.

The Bulgarian has been now sentenced to 11 years in prison for espionage and to 4 years and 10 months for participating in the establishment of a criminal group and for being an accomplice of the group, writes Romanian press.

The verdict is not final and can be appealed. If confirmed, Stanchev will remain in prison for 11 years (serve the longer sentence).

The Supreme Court has also sentenced two former Romanian ministers in the same case.

Former Romanian Economy Minister Ioan Codrut Seres has received a 5-year prison sentence for having joined the crime group and a 6-year one for treason for disclosing classified information. The rule can be appealed.

Former Communication Minister, Zsolt Nagy, has gotten five years in jail without probation, for having joined the crime group.

Ministers are guilty of treason because they fraudulently tried to privatize State companies for financial gain.

The trial started 4 years ago. Sentences totaling 75 years and six months in jail for all defendants were handed.

The indictment in the case stated that between May 30, 2005, and November 21, 2006, the former ministers and four Romanian and foreign citizens, including Stanchev, were part of a gang that had been dealing with illegally receiving confidential insider data about the privatization of strategic companies in the Romanian economy and communications sectors.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!