site.btaCourt Terminates Case against BTA Director General, Returns It to Prosecution

December 11 (BTA) - The Sofia City Court has terminated the case on charges of loss-making contracts for the supply of mineral water in return for advertisement services against BTA Director General Maxim Minchev.

The proceedings were launched in October 2018 in relation to providing free mineral water to the news agency staff in a barter for advertisement.

Minchev claims that payments under this contract have never been made, nor have public funds been used. He describes the charges against him as a "misunderstanding".

The panel decided that there is a considerable violation that does not allow the respondent to learn precisely what crimes he is charged with. The indictment features a detailed list of facts related to Minchev's authorization and the conclusion of contracts. However, it does not at all say how these contracts were implemented nor does it mention the quantity, type, value and dates of mineral water delivery or the advertisement services under each contract. In addition, there are unclarified facts in the indictment about the amount of the resulting damage for BTA.

The panel found that the prosecuting magistrates have not fulfilled their obligations in outlining precisely the object of the crime and that makes it impossible to judge whether the facts claimed by them have been proven or to come out with a decision.

The Court's decision can be appealed before the Sofia Appellate Court within seven days.//