Prosecutors Look into Minister's French Social Benefits

Bulgaria's Prosecuting Authority has started analyzing documents to find out whether Ivan Danov, the Minister of Investment Planning, has abused the French welfare system.

In an interview for Bulgaria's NOVA TV, Atanas Chobanov, a journalist, made the announcement after saying he had been interrogated last week over the issue.

Chobanov, whose website Bivol.bg reported in 2013 its alleged discovery about Danov, said the Minister had signed in France documents arguing he was unemployed, currently residing in France and looking for a job.

Data provided by Bivol has however shown that Danov lived in Bulgaria in that moment (2004-2005) and worked on a few projects while also teaching at Sofia's University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG).

He thus managed to obtain benefits worth EUR 15 000 from France over the course of eight or nine months, according to the reports.

Short after the alleged discovery was made in the summer of 2013, Danov admitted there was a speck of truth to these claims, as he did receive money but did not know they were social benefits.

The Minister could not be prosecuted in France due to a five-year legal prescription, unlike in Bulgaria, where it is 10 years.

Bivol is considered controversial by some in Bulgaria who doubt the authenticity of its sources. It has nevertheless managed to occasionally have a share in shaping opinions.

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