site.btaJustice Minister Demands Tougher Penalty for Judge Rodopski

Justice Minister Demands Tougher Penalty for Judge Rodopski

Sofia, April 6 (BTA) - Justice Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has appealed against a decision of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) imposing on Judge Ivailo Rodopski of the Regional Court of Kostinbrod a disciplinary penalty in the form of a 10 per cent cut in his basic salary for 12 months.

Zaharieva urged the Supreme Administrative Court to repeal the SJC's decision of March 24, and explained that it violated the rules of administrative procedure and was incompatible with the objective of the law. She argued that a tougher punishment should be imposed on the judge.

In February 2015, then justice minister Hristo Ivanov asked the SJC to open a disciplinary procedure against Rodopski, who was suspected of malfeasance in office during his work on the TV7 bankruptcy case.