Sofia Court Starts Embezzlement Trial against ex Interior Minister

The Sofia City Court has launched the second trial against former Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

Tsvetanov has been charged with large-scale embezzling to the tune of BGN 50 000 from the budget of the Interior Ministry.

The sum was embezzled to the benefit of another person, Orlin Todorov, former head of the anti-mafia unit in Veliko Tarnovo.

The prosecuting authority pressed embezzlement charges against Tsvetanov on November 22, 2013.

Tsvetanov is believed to have embezzled the money from the budget of the Interior Ministry in the period December 23, 2011 – May 2012 with a view to securing a profit for Orlin Todorov.

Todorov was paid a salary for the time of his removal from office and compensations under the Interior Ministry Act amounting to a total of BGN 50 000.

Tsvetanov has been released under signed promise for appearance during the proceedings  and the prosecuting authority has banned him from leaving Bulgaria.

The first case against Tsvetanov has also reached court.

In this case, the former Interior Minister faces charges of blocking six permits for the use of special surveillance equipment issued by judges. Three of the six permits were for Orlin Todorov, former director of the Interior's Chief Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" (GDBOP) in Veliko Tarnovo.

Prosecutors submitted to court a third trial against Tsvetanov for illegal wiretapping but the court returned it and the prosecuting authority said it would comply with these instructions.