site.btaAppellate Court Dismisses Complaint against Banker Tsvetan Vassilev's Temporary Detention Order

Appellate Court Dismisses Complaint against Banker Tsvetan Vassilev's Temporary Detention Order


Sofia, September 18 (BTA) - The Sofia Appellate Court on
Thursday upheld a decision of the Sofia City Court to dismiss a
complaint against a prosecutorial order for temporary detention
of banker Tsvetan Vassilev. Vassilev, who is charged with
embezzling 206 million leva from Corporate Commercial Bank
(Corpbank), is in Serbia released on recognizance, awaiting an
ongoing extradition trial in Bulgaria.

The Appellate Court argued that the 72-hour custody, ordered by
the prosecution authorities, only aims to facilitate possible
proceedings for placing Vassilev in permanent custody. Such an
order is not subject to judicial oversight and can be protested
before a senior prosecutor only. A court may exercise oversight
only during Vassilev's physical detention, the Appellate Court
added.

After the hearing Konstantin Simeonov, lawyer for Vassilev, said
that the banker will be taken into custody as soon as he
crosses the Bulgarian-Serbian border most likely at Sofia
Airport. Simeonov once again underscored that the prosecution
authorities have no evidence to suggest that Vassilev drained
money from the bank besides testimonies by two witnesses. He
added that the banker appeared before the competent authorities
with the first indications in Serbia that he is wanted by law
enforcement authorities.

The decision of the Sofia Appellate Court is final.

Caretaker Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki once again called on
Vassilev to return to Bulgaria. He told journalists that
Vassilev should return and cooperate with the authorities to
clear the situation with Corpbank. "He should do it and take his
responsibility," Bliznashki said.

According to BTA special correspondent Dimiter Abrashev in
Belgrade, Serbian media are following closely developments
regarding Tsvetan Vassilev, quoting him that has no plans of
leaving Serbia and returning to Bulgaria. VI/PP