European Arrest Warrant Issued for Turkish Suspect Sought by Bulgaria

A photo dated August 05 showing motorbikes parked opposite the Sofia Court House in protest over the house arrest ruling for Faruk Bekta?. Photo: BGNES

Bulgarian prosecutors have said a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) was issued for Faruk Bekta?, a Turkish national suspected of causing the death of two motorbikers in July.

The Regional Prosecutor's Office - Sofia has announced on its website that it filed the EAW on August 05, or last Friday, a day after reports emerged Bekta? was missing from the address where he was to stay under house arrest.

On Monday, it also asked Turkey for legal assistance to bring the man to justice.

His disappearance sparked a protest by motorbikers who gathered first in front of the Sofia Court House and then opposite the Turkish Embassy.

Some of them alleged the embassy helped Bekta? to leave Bulgaria, something which the diplomatic service categorically denies.

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry for its part admits it is difficult to apply oversight on house arrests on a constant basis. The country does not currently use bracelets or other equipment to track down people placed under house arrest.

Bekta? has been charged with causing the death of Bulgarian citizens Boyko Boykov and Tanya Boykova while driving a motor vehicle near Dragoman, in western Bulgaria on July 24. Bekta? was on his way home from Germany to Turkey transiting Bulgaria when the accident occurred.

The EAW is based on the fact that he works in Germany, the Chief Prosecutor's spokesperson, Rumyana Arnaudova, has said.

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