site.btaLawyer Says Former Customs Agency Director Gets Coercion Charge in Organized Crime Group Case

Former Customs Agency director Petya Bankova has been charged with coercion, her lawyer Adelina Natina told reporters on Thursday. Bankova allegedly posted 18 persons to various positions, promoted some of them and coerced them into accepting those positions, the lawyer said.

On April 4, Bankova was charged with participation in an organized crime group involved in smuggling, money laundering and bribery. She was arrested the day before.

On Wednesday, the Sofia City Prosecution Office charged former Interior Ministry secretary general Zhivko Kotsev with participation in a criminal group involving Petya Bankova, Marin Dimitrov and his son Stefan Dimitrov. Kotsev remains free on a bail of BGN 20,000.