site.btaBulgarian School Director Caught in the Act while Receiving Bribe, Says European Public Prosecutor's Office

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia is leading an investigation into suspected corruption involving EU funds, following the arrest of a secondary school director caught in the act of receiving a bribe, the EPPO said in a press release Friday. According to the investigation, the school director allegedly demanded EUR 10,225 (BGN 20,000) from a contractor involved in a publicly funded school renovation project.

The project was financed under the "School-STEM environment" procedure, supported by EU funds through the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with additional co-financing from the Bulgarian state budget.

The school had successfully secured funding, and the project’s total contract value amounted to EUR 46,000 (BGN 90,000), including VAT. Once the payment was disbursed for construction and renovation works, the school director allegedly asked the contractor to return part of the funds to her instead of using the full amount for the intended repairs.

Following an initial meeting in early February, the school director allegedly agreed to receive the bribe in two instalments - after the first and final contract payments. On February 20, the director was arrested in her office while accepting the first instalment of EUR 5,115 (BGN 10,000).

The school director has been charged, and the European Delegated Prosecutor has ordered a detention for up to 72 hours. A request for pre-trial detention as a permanent measure will be submitted to the court.

The investigation is ongoing, the EPPO said.