Sofia City Court has sentenced the former director of the Bulgarian State Agriculture Fund and the SAPARD Agency Assen Drumev to four years in jail.

Drumev has also been banned to occupy high-level posts for a period of seven years. He is also to pay BGN 5,000 in expenditures.

The ruling is not final and is subject to appeal at the Appellate Court within fifteen days.

Drumev was detained in November last year over accusations for mismanaging the European SAPARD funds and causing damages of BGN 618,000 to the SAPARD program. About two weeks later, he was freed on BGN 3,000 bail.

In March the Prosecutor's Office indicted Drumev for signing illegal contracts, draining more than BGN 48 M. The defendant then was imposed BGN 15,000 bail and was banned from leaving the country.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!