Bulgarian Court Sets Free 17 Traffic Cops Indicted for Bribes

Crime | October 1, 2011, Saturday // 12:15
Bulgarian Court Sets Free 17 Traffic Cops Indicted for Bribes: Bulgarian Court Sets Free 17 Traffic Cops Indicted for Bribes The case against several Bulgarian traffic cops, allegedly involved in a bribery scheme, has been dismissed by the Court over lack of evidence they acted as an organized crime group. File photo

The Sofia City Court has released from arrest all seventeen employees of Bulgaria's Interior Ministry who were detained Tuesday during a special operation codenamed "The Clubs 2."

The 17 traffic cops were arrested on charges they have been asking bribes from drivers.

According to the Prosecutor, the policemen were a member of an organized crime group, a claim rejected by the Court.

Judge, Miroslava Todorova, said she could not understand why all have been indicted together when no evidence they acted in a group had been presented.

The main motive of Prosecutor, Kaloyan Angelov, to ask for permanent detention of the defendants was the fact they represent law enforcement in the country, but have committed impudent crimes, which was also rejected by the Judge, who pointed out the latter is not included in requirements set by the law and cannot be deemed a public threat.

Two of the 17 were set free over lack of evidence for one of them, and immunity for the other since he is running for office as mayor of Novi Han; 5 were released on own recognizance, and 10 – on bail of between BGN 1 000 and 5 000.

The Prosecutor presented evidence the bribes asked for by the defendants ranged between BGN 6 and EUR 50.

The rule can be appealed with the Sofia Appellate Court.

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Tags: bribes, Sofia City Court, evidence, organized crime group, traffic police, police officers, Trakiya Highway, corruption, bribe, bribery, bribes, interior ministry, court, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, police, Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, Roman Vasilev, The Clubs

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