site.btaFour Detained for Corruption Crimes in Varna

Four people have been charged and detained for 72 hours under investigation for a corruption crime in Varna, the Sofia City Prosecution Office said on its website on Wednesday.

The four (identified by their initials B. K., N. S., Y. K. and I. M.) were accused of participating in an organized criminal group that operated on the territory of Varna from July 2024 to November 19, 2024, with the aim of jointly committing crimes of office, bribery and money laundering.

Three of the detainees (B. K., N. S. and Y. K) were also charged with having requested a 15% cut excluding VAT of BGN 1,523,446, representing the value of a public procurement contract on the preparation and delivery of ready-made food, daily for the needs of social services for children and adults at the Municipality of Varna, in exchange for influence in the decision-making of an official in connection with his service.

The pre-trial proceedings were initiated on November 19, 2024.

A number of witnesses were questioned, a large volume of documentation was collected, the prosecution service also wrote. After analyzing the evidence and at the request of the supervising prosecutor, the Sofia City Court granted permission for a search and seizure in private homes, motor vehicles, offices of commercial companies, and offices in the Varna Municipality building, given the reasonable assumption that documents and other items, including electronic devices, that may be relevant to the case are stored there.

The accused were provided with legal protection.

The investigation into the case continues, the prosecution service added.

On Tuesday, the Anti-Corruption Commission began work on an operation in Varna. The actions are under the supervision of the Sofia City Prosecution Office, the state prosecution told BTA.