Bulgaria Launches Trial against Top Crime Boss

Crime | May 31, 2010, Monday // 07:55
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Launches Trial against Top Crime Boss Bulgaria's top criminal boss Zlatomir Ivanov is charged with setting up an organized criminal group to distribute illegal drugs and premeditated murder. Photo by BGNES

A Bulgarian court will convene on Monday for the trial against alleged crime boss Zlatomir Ivanov aka Zlatko Baretata (The Barret) and 20 other defendants.

Baretata is charged as the ringleader of an organized crime group dealing with illegal drug trafficking and with first-degree murder for the killing of Stefan Ivanov aka Alf, committed in a way that endangered the life of many people.

Baretata is charged as the instigator of the murder, while prosecutors say Martin Dimitrov was his accomplice. The shooting happened in 2007 in a disco bar in the western city of Pernik.

Zlatomir Ivanov faces 3 to 15 years on the first count and 10 to 20 years on the second.

The Prosecutor's documents show some of the other defendants had testified against their alleged ringleader.

Baretata is currently under house arrest after being released from jail in February over the need to undergo urgent surgery. From the 20 defendants, 15 are in prison, 2 are under house arrest, 1 was released on bail and one - on his own recognizance.

107 witnesses have been questioned so far along with 52 experts.

Baretata is considered one of the top criminal bosses in Bulgaria in the last 10 years.

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Tags: Zlatomir Ivanov, Zlatko Baretata, Sofia Appellate Court, Sofia City Court

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