site.btaBourgas Municipal Councillor Benchev Subpoenaed by Appellate Prosecuting Magistracy

119 HOME AFFAIRS-MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR-SUBPOENA

Bourgas Municipal Councillor Benchev
Subpoenaed by Appellate Prosecuting
Magistracy


Bourgas, on the Black Sea, August 8 (BTA) - The Bourgas Appellate Prosecuting Magistracy has subpoenaed municipal councillor Bencho Benchev to press charges against him in connection with the tracking down and arrest of alleged drug lord Dimiter "Mityo the Eyes" Zhelyazkov in Istanbul in the night to August 4, sources from the prosecution said.

Benchev was too arrested in Istanbul, along with several other Bulgarians, and was handed over to the Bulgarian authorities. On Monday Benchev was released from custody in Bourgas without any charges.

In interviews Benchev claimed that he met Zhelyazkov by accident in Greece and undertook to drive him to Istanbul as he was ill and needed treatment. Data of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry show that Zhelyazkov entered Turkey from Greece in a car owned by Benchev.

The prosecuting magistracy has opened a pre-trial proceeding against Benchev for aiding a perpetrator of a crime - Zhelyazkov, in Istanbul in August 2-5, which could have foiled a criminal investigation against the latter. If convicted, Benchev may be sentenced to up to five years behind bars.

Questioning of witnesses is underway. International investigative requests have been sent for official documents from Turkey and Greece, for information from border crossings, etc. LY/ZH
//