Sofia Appellate Court Upholds Judge Chenalova's Release on Bail

The Sofia Appellate Court upheld on Thursday the verdict of the Sofia City Court, which had ruled to release Judge Rumyana Chenalova on bail.

The Appellate Court dismissed the request of the Prosecutor's Office to return Chenalova back to custody, daily Dnevnik reports.

The Sofia City Court released the judge on bailout of BGN 8000 last week, after it ruled that the prosecution had not gathered enough evidence for charging her with malfeasance in office.

Chenalova, who is suspected of malfeasance in office and document fraud, was detained after she had been declared wanted and authorities launched nationwide search for her.

Judge Veselina Stavreva said that the testimonies, presented by the prosecution, showed that the crime perpetrated by Chenalova constituted bribery, but no such charges were filed against her.

According to the verdict of the Appellate Court, the prosecution presented evidences pertaining only to her document fraud charge.

The prosecutors had specified neither the crimes perpetrated by Chenalova under the malfeasance in office charge nor the harmful consequences ensuing from her activities.

The Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) sent to the Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov on Wednesday six folders containing information on the work of Chenalova.

The accused judge requested for the amount of the bail to be reduced, but the Appellate Court dismissed her demand.

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