5 New Magistrates Exposed in Bulgaria Judicial Corruption Scandal

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) has announced the names of five new magistrates, who have been in contact with the famous businessman ‘Krasio from Pleven’.

Tsoni Tsonev, the Chairman of the corruption commission at VSS, stated late Wednesday that the total number of magistrates who have liaised with ‘Krasio’ had now been confirmed as 18.

He added that “by the end of the week all of the magistrate’s names who have been in contact with Krasio will be published. He explained that the delay in naming them all was because of the time needed to printout all of the mobile phone records.

Tsonev announced the following five new names: Nikola Gospodinov - Vice Chairman of the District Court in Pleven, who over three months was contacted 53 times by Krasimir Georgiev –a.k.a. ‘Krasio’, he had recently applied to become the Chairman of the district court in Pleven; Rumyana Chenalova - Judge at the Sofia City Court – who had applied to become Chairman of the District Court in Stara Zagora – she was in contact with Krasio 30 times a month; Dimitar Kirilov - Judge in District Court in Pleven - candidate for Chairman of the District Court in Pleven - over a period of six months had 21 telephone and face to face conversations with ‘Krasio’; Daniel Minov – Acting Chairman of the District Court in Veliko Tarnovo - over a period of 15 days he had 14 calls and meeting with ‘Krasio’; Ivan Petrov - Attorney in the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office - Sofia, who applied for the Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s post – in two months and a half he held 53 conversations with ‘Krasio’.

Last Friday it became clear that ‘Krasio’ was a ‘piggy bank’ and not an influential lobbyist. He is alleged tot have offered magistrates to secure their appointment to high ranking positions through the vote of the VSS in exchange for EUR 200 000 in cash.

The scandal has so far triggered heated arguments and several resignations after the Chief Prosecutor earlier revealed the names of 13 magistrates and prosecutors, whose phone logs showed they have been in touch with Krasimir Georgiev.