site.btaCourt Confirms Arrest of Romanian Citizen Accused of Causing Car Crash that Killed Six Migrants

The Burgas Appellate Court confirmed the remand in custody imposed on a 26-year-old Romanian citizen, who is accused of causing a car accident which took the lives of six migrants on November 7.

Prosecutor Yovita Grigorova pointed out that according to his own testimony, the Romanian citizen planned to hide outside Bulgaria after transporting the foreigners. The man,  who has a clean criminal record and works as a furniture maker, had pleaded for a lighter measure in order to return to his wife and children in Romania. Grigorova noted that video recordings were attached to the case that clearly track the man's actions, which coincide with the statements of the police officers who participated in the attempt to stop him.

According to the defence, the foreigner committed the crime through negligence. During the court hearing, Lawyer Maria Nikolova stated that her client speaks only Romanian and therefore did not understand the calls of the migrants to slow down during the police pursuit.

If found guilty, the man would face up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. The prosecutor's office has also brought a second charge against him for assisting foreigners to reside and pass through Bulgaria illegally.