Bulgarian former environment minister remains in custody

The Appellate Specialized Criminal Court ruled on January 16 that the former environment minister, Neno Dimov, remains in custody. The court found that there was evidence to make a reasonable assumption that Neno Dimov had committed the crime of mismanagement by not restricting the use of industrial water to the Studena dam. This was within Dimov's powers as a minister and he did not delegate his rights to another.

The court found that there was evidence to substantiate the charges against Dimov of allowing the use of water from Studena dam for industrial use, while the dam levels were dropping, which resulted in water crisis and strict water restrictions for the residents of the town of Penik.

According to the court, Neno Dimov is responsible, not the employees who drew up and agreed water use schedules. There was an estimate that by the end of 2019 the dam would have about 3 million cubic metres of water and Neno Dimov would be aware of this forecast.

Information on the level of Studena dam was submitted daily to the Ministry of Environment. From the spring of 2019, it was obvious that the level of the dam was decreasing dramatically.

Тhere were documents in Dimov's office for the flow and consumption of water from Studena dam for the last 10 years. A report on the situation with the dam was also found in his office. This proves, according to the court, that Dimov was well informed about the situation.

The court panel acknowledged that Dimov had been notified regularly and had failed to fulfill his obligation to stop industrial water use from Studena Dam.

There is a danger if Neno Dimov is free to commit a crime. He is no longer a minister and cannot influence MoEW officials, but may interfere otherwise. Dimov remains in custody.

According to the court, Dimov should not be released from custody because although he is no longer a minister there is a risk that he could interfere in a different way.

Prosecutors say that documents showed that while household consumers were charged 2 BGN per cubic metre, industrial firms were charged 13 stotinki (0.13 BGN).

***

Minister of Environment and Water, Neno Dimov, on January 10 was accused of deliberate mismanagement. According to the evidence gathered by the Prosecutor's Office, for more than a year and a half since the beginning of 2018, Neno Dimov, was informed monthly by the head of the Water Supply and Sewerage company in Pernik about the state of Studena Dam and the decrease of water quantities in it.

Чуйте последните новини, където и да сте!
Последвайте ни във Facebook и Instagram
Следете и канала на БНТ в YouTube
Вече може да ни гледате и в TikTok
Намерете ни в Google News