site.btaSupreme Court of Cassation Upholds Former Interior Minister Tsvetanov's Acquittal on Embezzlement Charges

Supreme Court of Cassation Upholds Former Interior Minister Tsvetanov's Acquittal on Embezzlement Charges

Sofia, October 21 (BTA) - The Supreme Court of Cassation
(SCC) upheld the Sofia Appellate Court's (SAC) judgement to
acquit former interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov on
embezzlement charges.

According to the prosecuting magistracy, Tsvetanov unlawfully
paid close to 50,000 leva to the former head of Veliko Turnovo
(Central Bulgaria) Regional Anti-Organized Crime Unit, Orlin
Todorov, in the form of salaries and indemnities.

In September SAC acquitted Tsvetanov of charges of thwarting
criminal proceedings against Todorov.

In two earlier court judgements during the trial, Tsvetanov was
found guilty and sentenced to four years' imprisonment for
barring the use of special surveillance means against Todorov by
 famously jotting down "No" six times in the written refusal.
Despite the twice rendered conviction, the SCC returned the case
 to the second instance - SAC, which eventually acquitted the
former Interior Minister. This latest judgment was appealable
before SAC.

According to SCC's three-members panel, the prosecuting
magistracy's objections are unfounded. The magistrates note in
their reasoning that the current case concerns a legal dispute
regarding the legality of the two orders, which Tsvetanov issued
 in his capacity as interior minister, which pertain to
Todorov's contractual employment relations and the remunerations
 paid out to him.

The SCC judges accept the decisions made on the lower instances,
 that Tsvetanov had not violated the Interior Ministry Act
provisions, which the prosecuting magistracy has quoted.
According to the SCC, the provision quoted by the prosecuting
magistracy is inapplicable to the current case and can not be
used to hold Tsvetanov criminally liable. SCC's decision is
final.