site.bta Court Reopens High-Profile Official Malfeasance Case against Former Judge

Court Reopens High-Profile Official Malfeasance Case against Former Judge

Sofia, April 28 (BTA) - Following an appeal by the anti-corruption prosecution unit, Sofia Appellate Court reopened an official malfeasance case against former judge Roumyana Chenalova, said the prosecution service.

In December 2016, Chenalova was charged with malfeasance in office and a documentary offence, intended to obtain a benefit for the private company United Energy Traders (UET) in a case against the National Electric Company (NEK) which she tried. The benefit allegedly consisted of 434,105.14 leva in unpaid stamp duty for examination of UET's action claim against NEK. The prosecution counted 14 violations allegedly committed by the judge in the process. In February, the Sofia City Court terminated the criminal proceeding against Chenalova, arguing that the acts narrated in the indictment do not constitute a criminal offence.

The Appellate Court found the decision for terminating the proceeding wrongful and unlawful.

The case is thus being sent to be tried by a different panel of the Sofia City Court.

The decision is final and may not be appealed.