site.btaFormer Customs Head Bankova Released from Custody on BGN 10,000 Bail

The Sofia City Court has released from custody the former director of the Customs Agency Petya Bankova on BGN 10,000 bail. She has been in custody since April on charges of coercion and participation in an organized criminal group for smuggling.

Bankova asked to be released because she is in poor health. She has also recently testified.

The Prosecution Office also agreed that Bankova could be released.

Among those charged in the case are former Interior Ministry Secretary General Zhivko Kotsev, father and son Marin and Stefan Dimitrov.

On April 4, Bankova was detained for 72 hours and charged with involvement in an organized crime group for influence peddling, smuggling and bribery with three other people, including Stefan Dimitrov.

On April 6, Sofia City Court remanded Bankova and Dimitrov in custody.

In July, the court authorized a European Arrest Warrant for a fourth defendant, Nikolay Nikolov-Paskal, who was detained in Serbia in late September.