The European Commission has asked Bulgaria's finance ministry to freeze EU subsidy payments for infrastructure following a corruption scandal, the transport minister said.

Transport Minister Petar Mutafchiev said he doubts the disclosure of the criminal actions of the Road Infrastructure Fund directors involves absorbing the money, granted by the EU.

The EC insist on giving unconditional evidence that could prove the misappropriation is not related to the European block financing.

Bulgaria's fund directors were caught red-handed while receiving BGN 25,000 bribe, demanded from a proprietor owning a plot near the route of the Hemus highway, which is now under construction.

One of the officials, Lyubomir Lilov, is the director of the "Utilization of EU Funds" Directorate, and the other is his subordinate Ivan Vladimirov - head of the ISPA Program Department.

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