Bulgarian Man Arrested for Attempting to Bribe Traffic Police with BGN 20
In Stara Zagora, Bulgarian authorities apprehended a 35-year-old man who attempted to bribe traffic police with a BGN 20 banknote
Ivaylo Vasilev, chief of a Sofia police unit, and six other members of his unit were indicted on charges of bribery and blackmail, the State Prosecutor's Office said.
The charges were filed on July 31, a day after the seven member of the Sigma motorcycle patrol unit at the Sofia Police Directorate (SDVR) were arrested.
Prosecutors allege they were involved in an organized criminal gang which has been active since January 2013, according to the website Dariknews.bg.
The group's members are said to have forced drivers who committed traffic offenses into paying hefty bribes in order to avoid other sanctions.
Vasilev is in 72-hour detention that started on Tuesday evening, and the Specialized Prosecutor's Office will demand that he remain in custody. The other six were released after each of them was imposed a BGN 500 (EUR 250) bail.
Sigma policemen are responsible for maintaining public order, carrying out investigations, escorting criminals to court or to an airport in case of an extradition.
Among those escorted was Serbian drug lord Sreten Josic, who was extradited to the Netherlands in 2002 after Interpol issued an arrest warrant.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
In a pioneering initiative to address road safety, a new campaign will see road offenders receiving letters from relatives of those who lost their lives in accidents
Bulgaria is grappling with a sharp increase in counterfeit currency, with the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) reporting a concerning surge in fake banknotes, particularly those of 100 BGN denominations
In a chilling turn of events, the lifeless body of a man was discovered in Sofia's "Zapaden Park" yesterday, as reported by NovaTV
In a tragic turn of events, a 57-year-old man fatally assaulted a 42-year-old woman in her Cherven Bryag home before taking his own life in another residence
In Stara Zagora, Bulgarian authorities apprehended a 35-year-old man who attempted to bribe traffic police with a BGN 20 banknote
An organized criminal group comprising Bulgarian citizens has been implicated in what authorities describe as the largest welfare fraud scheme in the legal history of Great Britain
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022