The year 2009 was marked by several high-profile trials, including two much-publicized processes involving non-Bulgarian nationals.

Bulgaria Gives up Taking Michael Shields to Court Again

In November, Bulgarian prosecutors confirmed expectations that they did not plan to resume the trial against Liverpool fan Michael Shields, who was sentenced in Bulgaria in 2005 for an attack on a barman, but was later pardoned by his home country, the UK, after being transferred to serve his sentence in a British jail.

Shields was originally jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of barman Martin Georgiev, who had a rock dropped on his head in Varna. His sentence was later reduced to 10 years after two appeals by Shields.

The unprecedented September decision of the UK Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, to pardon Shields provoked legal and diplomatic wrangling in Bulgaria and the UK, with MEPs also becoming involved.

Bulgaria Sentences Australian Stabber to 20 Years in Jail

In December, the Bulgarian courts pronounced sentence on the Australian citizen, Paul “Jock” Palfreeman, accused of the murder of university law student Andrei Monov, the son of a prominent police psychologist, who suffered a fatal stab wound. Three others were also injured, including 19-year-old Anton Zahariev, who suffered multiple knife puncture wounds.

The incident had occurred on December 27, 2007, and court proceedings were begun a few days later. In the intervening 2 years, Palfreeman was refused bail and kept behind bars, while there were several procedural and technical delays in the trial.

Palfreeman’s father, who was present in court when the verdict and 20-year sentence were announced, harshly criticized the verdict and the investigation that preceded it. “The sentence was delivered following an investigation, marred by a number of procedural violations,” Simon Palfreeman told journalists after the hearing the verdict.

Bulgaria Registered 13 000 Serious Crimes in First 11 Months of 2009

According to statistics published in December, 12 950 serious crimes had been observed in Bulgaria by the European Commission and the Bulgarian Supreme Judicial Council to the end of November 2009, local prosecutors reported.

Malena Filipova, head of the inspectorate of the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office, announced the figures for the first 11 months of 2009 following a prosecutor’s seminar in the Bulgarian resort of Tsigov Chark. She stated that the number of cases against magistrates in the period, a total of 60, was more than in any other European country.

The number of cases against drugs traffickers surged 60% compared to the same period last year and there were 103 indictments served over fraud with EU funds – 86 involving SAPARD, 4 in relation to Phare, and for ISPA, 13. 27% of all criminal convictions this year involved drink-driving offenses.

Prosecutors concluded that the main problems they faced were outdated legislation and a huge workload.

The latter months of 2009 saw significant activities on the part of the police in arresting gang members accused of involvement in organized crime, and in legal proceedings being opened against the accused. Longer-running trials also progressed, with additional charges being tabled by prosecutors.

Bulgarian Mobster Jailed for 5 Years in Top Money Laundry Trial

In June, a Bulgarian court sentenced Peter Petrov, dubbed Amigosa, to five years in jail, putting a full stop to the largest trial for money laundering in the country.

Petrov, a former associate of late underworld lord Ivan Todorov Doktora, and brothers Doychin and Dimitar Miryanov, along with Tsveta Manavska, were on trial for large-scale laundry of money earned through cigarette smuggling.

Manavska, who lives in South Africa, received a three-year suspended sentence, while the two brothers were acquitted. The court also found guilty of complicity the late Ivan Todorov, who was also a defendant in the trial while still alive.

The trial was given the go-ahead in March 2006, but repeatedly postponed, which gave grounds for the Supreme Judicial Council to launch probes into the work of Sofia City Court.

According to prosecutors, the scam had operated since 1997. The illegal traffic targeted Macedonia (Macedonia) and Bulgaria, and was legalized by means of false commercial contracts.

Sofia Court Halts Notorious Bulgaria Energy Tycoon Trial

The Sofia City Court halted in November a trial against Bulgaria's energy tycoon, Hristo Kovachki, and sent it back to the prosecution for clarification.

The move stemed from irregularities and discrepancies between preliminary investigation and the official charges.

The preliminary proceedings, for example, noted that Kovachki has committed the crime through fictitious deals with declarations with false content, while the charges included additional violations, such as irregular invoices.

During the proceedings, the defense counsel requested the withdrawal of the magistrates in the case, challenging prejudice and delaying of the trial over the November 19 postponement. The Court rejected the request.

The probe of the businessman alleged illegal activities began in October. The energy tycoon is officially charged with tax evasion amounting to BGN 16,7 M for the 2005-2008 period from four of his businesses.

Bulgaria Prosecutors Bring Charges against Top Crime Group

In December, Bulgaria prosecutors charged Zlatomir Ivanov, aka Baretata, along with 15 other men, with setting up an organized criminal group to distribute illegal drugs.

Prosecutors reported that the activity of some members of the group was not directly related to the spreading of drugs, but instead with the opening of markets and the collection and hiding of income gained from criminal activity.

Ivanov and his co-defendant Martin Dimitrov were also charged in relation to the murder of Pernik drugs boss Rumen Stefanov in 2007.

Amnesia Strikes Witnesses in Bulgaria Notorious Galevi Trial

The trial against Bulgaria's notorious pair of alleged local mafia bosses, known as the Galevi brothers, resumed in mid-December in the Regional Court in the south western city of Kyustendil.

Plamen Galev and Angel Hristov, known as the Galevi brothers, were charged with extortion and racketeering. They made headlines over the past year as self-proclaimed benefactors of Dupnitsa, an impoverished and dilapidated Bulgarian town at the foot of the Rila mountain, some 60 km south of Sofia, and as failed runners in the summer general elections.

Bosses of Bulgaria 'Impudent' Kidnappers Left in Prison

An extensive police operation, codenamed “The Impudent” began in mid-December, resulting in numerous arrests of a gang alleged to have carried out over two dozen kidnappings of Bulgarian businessmen and their relatives, one of whom has not been since he disappeared in April.

As series of follow-up police raids has resulted in the successful detention of several other kidnappers. The courts have refused bail to most of those suspected of being the ringleaders, and have allowed release on bail to only a few of the less significant gang members. Some appeals against detention are expected early in January 2010.

A few of those arrested have made confessions to the police, confirming their roles in the gang’s activities. The information provided in this way has enabled the security forces to widen their operations, with the last reported activities ongoing at the end of December.

Brand New Suit against Bulgarian Mafia Boss Involves His Family

In January 2008, Dimitar Zhelyazkov, aka Mityo Ochite, was sentenced to 4,5 years in jail after confessing to the charges of heading an organized crime group involved in drug dealing and drug trafficking.

In August 2009, Zhelyazkov said he was ready to sign a second agreement with prosecutors that wuld involve a Vratsa-based alleged criminal .

In November 2009, Zhelyazkov was moved back to the prison in Belene, after fighting with another prisoner. One month later, a brand new legal suit was filed against the crime boss and members of his family.

The new suit was for large-scale money laundering against Zhelyazkov, his mother Stanka, his uncle Ivan, and the woman that he had been living with.

The charges said that in 2000-2007 Zhelyazkov acquired property through illegal activities for which he had been sentenced. His relatives were charged with helping him with the laundering of the money.

The year marked several cases being brought against alleged institutional offenders, including senior public officials, ex-ministers, top administrators and members of the judiciary. Extensive investigations into allegations of fraudulent dealings with European Union or Bulgarian government funds resulted in the initiation of new criminal cases.

Bulgaria Notorious SAPARD Draining Case Put off Again

Sofia City Court decided at the end of December to postpone once again the case against businessman Mario Nikolov and seven other persons over the draining of European Union SAPARD program funds.

The legal proceedings for the notorious SAPARD draining case first came up after a report of the EU Anti-Fraud Office OLAF published in 2008, in which a group of businessmen described as “Nikolov-Stoykov” was inentified as being involved in a fraud scheme.

According to prosecutors, the eight accused drained EUR 7,5 M of SAPARD money through document fraud as an organized crime group in 2002-2005. The group were accused of draining away SAPARD money by presenting old equipment as new.

Sofia Prosecutor Launches 'Beautiful Bulgaria' Proceedings

Former Social Minister, Emiliya Maslarova, walking out of parliamentary hall Tuesday, after she was removed from her post as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Labor and Social Policy

The Prosecutor's Office began delayed pre-trial proceedings against embezzlement allegations related to the Social Ministry's “Beautiful Bulgaria” project.

The Sofia District prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov. announced that the decision was made after his office received an audit report about financial violations related to the project. The proceedings involve the former leadership of the Social Ministry over alleged abuse of power, but currently there was no investigation against any particular individual.

However, the former Social Minister involved in the project, Emiliya Maslarova, was removed from her post as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Labor and Social Policy, in connection with the instigation of proceedings.

Trial against Bulgaria Tobacco Monopoly Former Head Drags on

A Bulgarian court delayed in April a trial against the former chief executive of state tobacco company Bulgartabak, who was charged with misappropriation of funds and tax evasion on a large scale.

Prosecutors claimed that Hristo Lachev had failed to pay taxes totalling BGN 10 000 for the period 2004-2006. He had not legally declared properties in Sofia, Separeva Banya, Bansko and others along the Black Sea coast. Lachev denied all the charges.

Bulgaria Ex-Interior Minister Acquitted in State Secret Trial

The Sofia Appellate Court in April acquitted former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov in the trial regarding his having leaked secret state information.

Petkov was accused of revealing the identity of the DANS undercover agent, Aleksei Petrov, but was found not guilty.

The Court had delayed a hearing in March, as magistrates had requested that the State Agency for National Security (DANS) provide more evidence in order to clarify the case.

On November 20 2008, the Sofia City Court had acquitted Petkov of all charges, and imposed only a BGN 2 750 fine.

Notorious Bulgaria Heating Utility Director Faces 15 Years in Jail

In June, the prosecution requested a 15-year jail sentence for the notorious ex-Director of Sofia's heating utility "Toplofikatsiya" Valentin Dimitrov AKA "Toploto." (The Warm).

In addition to the jail term, Prosecutor, Bozhidar Dzhambazov, requested a seizure of Toploto's entire assets along with those of another defendant, Lina Albanska, owner of the "Shibar" company.

Another former "Toplofikazia" Director, Georgi Rogachev, Dimitrov's assistant Emil Antonov, Maya Stoilova and Lina Albanska were charged, along with Dimitrov, accused of embezzling nearly BGN 6 M.

The prosecution further demanded the confiscation of certain assets of Rogachev, Antonov and Stoilova, and jail sentences.

Bulgaria's Penalty Code provides for 10 to 20 years behind bars for similar crimes.

Over one year ago, Dimitrov was sentenced to five years in jail, but was later released on bail. He was initially arrested after the heating utility had to file for bankruptcy in 2005.

Ex Bulgaria Agriculture Minister Denies Guilt over Land Swap Charges

Former Bulgaria Agriculture Minister, Valeri Tsvetanov, who was charged in September with malfeasance in office, denied any wrongdoing.

Tsvetanov was charged with making illegal land swaps but he claimed that all land swaps were made legally. He added that the charges did not worry him, as he had full faith in the Bulgarian judicial system.

Regarding the charges bought against Stefan Yurukov, the former head of the Bulgarian forest agency, Tsvetanov stated that Yurukov had nothing to do with any land swap deals. He added that he was perplexed by the charges and questioned the political motives behind the move.

Corruption Scandal Shakes Bulgaria Supreme Judicial Council

A months-long scandal continued to shake Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) in October, following revelations that three of its members and 30 acting magistrates could be involved in a corruption scheme.

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, had revealed the information during a routine meeting of the VSS. Members, Stoyko Stoev, Ivan Dimov and Plamen Stoilov were said to have been in contact with the man known as “Krasio from Pleven” - an individual, who allegedly, had offered magistrates to secure their appointment to high ranking positions through the vote of the VSS in exchange for EUR 200 000 in cash.

Former Judge, Top Civil Servant Ordered Bulgaria Businessman's Murder

Bulgaria's police arrested in October one of those suspected of ordering the murder of Stoyan Stoyanov, a businessman whose body was found after he had been missing for 1,5 years.

The suspect, Galiv Kostov, is a former judge in the Varna District Court. He later worked as an attorney, and was currently a private officer of the court. Kostov was initially detained for 72 hours, and would later be placed under permanent arrest at the request of the Burgas District Prosecutor’s Office.

The second suspect for ordering Stoyan Stoyanov’s murder was Svetlin Mihaylov, a former Director of the State Receivables Collection Agency in 2002-2006. Mihaylov was not currently in Bulgaria, causing the Ministry of Interior to issue an European Arrest Warrant.

Minister Tsvetanov announced that the murder of the businessman from the city of Burgas Stoyan Stoyanov had been organized because of a disputed real estate property of 2,5 decares on the Black Sea coast close to the city of Burgas.

Bulgaria Ex Security Agency Head to Face Court over Leak Scandal

It was announced in November that Petkov Sertov, former director of the National State Security Agency (DANS), was expected to be probed by prosecutors over missing classified reports on crime, together with former Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev.

"There will be most probably two defendants in that case," Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolay Kokinov announced.

The case would set a precedent in Bulgarian justice practice as it would be the first time that a former prime minister and head of the secret services would face court over the same charges.

The pair would be probed on allegations that eight classified reports prepared by the National Security Agency, and two by the Interior Ministry, all submitted to former Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, including reports on smuggling and corruption, were missing from the agency to which they should have been returned.

Former Prime Minister Stanishev would also face charges of making public a top secret report of the State National Security Agency DANS incriminating state officials with violations.

Ethnic Turk MPs Give Up Immunity in Bulgaria Embezzlement Probe

In the same month, two Members of Parliament of the ethnic Turkish party officially declared their agreement to be stripped of immunity from prosecution as part of a corruption investigation.

Gyunay Sefer and Mithat Tabakov, who were elected on the ticket of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in the town of Silistra, tabled in parliament their joint declarations to that effect, the parliamentary speaker announced.

The charges to be made against Gyunay Sefer concerned a major fraud involving forged documents, while those against Tabakov were defined as malfeasance in office and corruption, prosecutors said.

Bulgaria Prosecutors Press Charges against Ex-Defense Minister

In November, Bulgaria’s Prosecutor's Office officially charged former Defense Minister, Nikolay Tsonev, with signing deals that were unfavorable to the ministry.

One of those contracts was the purchase of an US assembly line for the building of hangars, warehouses, dormitories and others at a cost of BGN 13 M.

Tsonev was being probed for deals concluded as early as the 1999-2000 period, when he has been the Head of the “Supply Management” Directorate at the Defense Ministry.

Unprofitable contracts concluded by Tsonev involved the supply and storage of food, technical equipment, and spare parts for the Bulgarian army, leading to State losses amounting to BGN 1 M and USD 143 000.

1st Bulgaria Magistrate Admits Wrongdoing in Judiciary Scandal

The candidate for Chair of the Pleven Regional Court, Rumen Lazarov, admitted in court in December that the so-called, notorious “Krasio from Pleven” had attempted to influence court decisions.

Lazarov, who is temporarily in charge of the Pleven Court, made the confession during his hearing at the Supreme Judicial Council when its members were to vote on the appointment.

Lazarov further said that Krasimir Georgiev aka Krasio had called him to inquire “about a case involving people close to the socialist Member of the Parliament, Kiril Dobrev.”

Bulgaria Ex-Justice Minister Tangled in High Profile Murder Case

The Appellate Court in Bulgaria's Black Sea City of Burgas ruled in December to keep former judge, Galin Kostov, under permanent detention

The former judge from the other Black Sea city of Varna, Galin Kostov, is charged with the kidnapping and murder of the Burgas businessman, Stoyan Stoyanov.

The court examined new evidence presented by the defense council, including a warning to the Chief Prosecutor and the Supreme Judicial Council concerning violations in the pre-trail proceedings amounting to criminal acts.

Sofia Prosecutor Officially Charges 3 with College Student Murder

The Sofia District Prosecutor's Office pressed formal charges late in December in the murder case of college student Stoyan Baltov.

The three people charged with Baltov's murder were Vili Georgiev, Alexander Danailov and Svetlozar Stoilov, who was previously only regarded as a witness to the incident.

20-year-old pharmacy student Stoyan Baltov died on December 5, 2008 after sustaining severe head trauma and scull fracture from a beating in front of the “Amnesia” disco club in Sofia's “Studentski Grad” (College Town) district.

4 days later the Sofia District Court imposed permanent detention on Vili Georgiev, and charged him with taking part in the beating. Alexander Danailov was arrested, released on BGN 500 bond and later arrested again.

The murder trial opened in July, with Georgiev and Danailov as the two defendants in the case. They were charged with unpremeditated murder due to the influence of alcohol.

Witness testimony forced the court to return the case for the prosecution for further investigation over evidence a third person was involved in the beating.

In November, the Sofia District Prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov, announced a third person would be charged with the murder. Svetlozar Stoilov was officially charged on December 6.

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