Sofia Appellate Court (SAS) sentenced the former director of heating utility Toplofikatsiya Sofia Valentin Dimitrov to three years' imprisonment at second instance on charges of property mismanagement.

SAS modified the sentence of the Sofia City Court (SGS), ruling that Dimitrov committed one continuous crime rather than two, as it had been previously decided, daily Dnevnik reports.

The Appellate Court upheld the acquittal of the remaining former members of the board of directors.

SAS ruled that the damages caused by Dimitrov amounted to BGN 325 000 rather than BGN 422 000, as it had been previously decided.

The Appellate Court ruled that the crime had been committed over the period of three years and Dimitrov abused office by not launching public procurement procedures for 17 contracts.

Further lawsuits have been filed against Dimitrov for currency crimes, money laundering and embezzlement.

The former director was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment on the embezzlement charges at first instance, but was later acquitted by SAS and the case was returned for retrial.

Dimitrov was executive director of Toplofikatsiya Sofia between 2002 and 2006, before being dismissed after an audit had been ordered by then Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov.