site.btaFormer Central Bank Deputy Governor Sues Prosecution, Parliament over His Treatment in Bankruptcy-related Case

Former Central Bank Deputy Governor Sues Prosecution, Parliament over His Treatment in Bankruptcy-related Case

Sofia, November 17 (BTA) - The former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), Tsvetan Grouev, is suing the National Assembly and the prosecution magistracy over the way he was treated in a major bankruptcy-related case, the "Praven Svyat" [Legal World] e-zine reported Thursday. Gounev is among the persons targets in an investigation of an organized crime group for the siphoning of the failed Corporate Commercial Bank (Corpbank).

Gounev is suing Parliament for his unlawful dismissal in the beginning of 2015. He demands reinstatement and claims 40,000 leva in damages (in two claims of 20,000 leva each) from the legislature.

At the end of 2015, the case for Gounev's reinstatement and damages was referred by Sofia City Court to Sofia District Court on grounds that the aggregate amount of the two claims exceeds the 25,000 leva cap which is set for the competence of the Sofia City Court.

The former central bank deputy governor is suing the prosecution magistracy over a decree banning him from leaving the country. He claims that the prosecutorial decree did not state specific reasons related to his personality leading to the conclusion that he could go abroad and escape justice. It merely said that he had financial resources that may enable him to hide abroad.

The ban was lifted only in the beginning of 2016 because the legal deadline had expired.