Neli Dimitrova, former deputy financial and economic director of the state lottery, claims that the contract with Petrol fuel distributor is the first step towards its privatisation. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgarian prosecutors are investigating allegations of corruption in the state lottery, it emerged a day after the scandal broke out.
The Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office announced it has launched ten days ago a probe into a contract between the Bulgarian Sports Totalisator (BST) and the country's leading fuel distributor Petrol AD.
The information was confirmed by Senior Prosecutor Boris Velchev, who said a separate probe is underway into claims that the lottery is in for a secret sale.
The contract between BST and Petrol is the first step towards the privatisation of the lottery, Neli Dimitrova, former deputy financial and economic director, claims.
Under the contract Petrol company collects lottery tickets in its network of more than 300 distribution stations across the country and gains 12% of the proceeds.
It is still not clear whether the two probes will be merged.