site.btaEx-Mayor of Sofia's Mladost Borough Released on Bail, Trial Adjourned

Sofia, June 21 (BTA) - The Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) on
Monday released Dessislava Ivancheva, former mayor of the Sofia
borough of Mladost, on 10,000 leva bail. Ivancheva has spent the
 last three years in remand first and under house arrest later.

She is charged with demanding a bribe from building contractor
Alexander Vaklin. A first-instance court sentenced her to 20
years' imprisonment. Her former deputy Bilyana Petrova received
15 years in jail, and the alleged intermediary in the bribery
attempt, Petko Dyulgerov, got 12 years. A higher court reduced
the sentences to 8, 7 and 6 years, respectively. The three
defendants are now appealing their reduced sentences before the
SCC.

The court heard their appeals on Monday but adjourned the
proceedings after the defence requested information about a
disciplinary check on Appellate Specialized Criminal Court
President Georgi Ushev, who was the second-instance judge in the
 case.

Ivancheva told journalists she has mixed feelings about her
release on bail. She said she does not have the money, so she
will probably organize an online fundraiser. NV/VE