site.btaFormer Sofia Deputy Mayor Charged in Connection with Street Renovation

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Former Sofia Deputy Mayor
Charged in Connection
with Street Renovation


Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - The prosecution service on Tuesday charged former Sofia deputy mayor Evgeni Kroussev with malfeasance in office. The accusation is related to a procedure for installing tramway anti-vibration pads on the city's central Graf Ignatiev Street, which has been renovated.

The prosecutors claim that the anti-vibration pads which have been installed are of a different material than the one defined in the contract, which can potentially cause 5 million leva detriment. The material was changed in violation of the Public Procurement Act.

Kroussev resigned as deputy mayor for transport a week ago after being subpoenaed to testify in the case.

His lawyer, Menko Menkov, argued that there was no violation of the Public Procurement Act. Menkov recalled that about 30 experts signed the project papers.

Kroussev said he has always served the interests of Sofia Municipality and has not made any single-handed decisions about the renovation of Graf Ignatiev Street. Kroussev is free on his own recognizance.

Special Prosecution Office chief Dimiter Popov said the case has been notified to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) because the project was supported with EU money. LY/VE
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