Bulgarian ex interior minister faces embezzlement trial

Sophia City Court has begun the second trial in an ongoing case against former Interior Minister Tsvetan T., who is facing charges for allegedly embezzling up to BGN 50,000 (EUR 25,650) from the ministry budget, according to local media.

“The prosecuting authority pressed embezzlement charges against Tsvetan T. on November 22, 2013, wrote Sophia news agency Novinite. “Tsvetan T. is believed to have embezzled the money from the budget of the Interior Ministry in the period December 23, 2011 – May 2012 with a view to securing a profit for [a former regional director of the “Combating Organized Crime” unit] Orlin Todorov.”

During his time as interior minister Tsvetan T. ordered that Todorov, formerly the head of an anti-mafia unit in the Bulgarian province of Veliko Tarnovo, be financially compensated for unpaid salary during time in he spent in prison. Tsvetan T. is also charged with blocking the use of wiretaps against Todorov.

The court has banned the defendant from leaving the country while the trial continues.