HEAD OF BULGARIA’S FUND FOR TREATMENT OF CHILDREN ABROAD AND SEVEN OTHER OFFICIALS ARRESTED

The Head of the Bulgarian fund for treatment of children abroad and seven other officials were arrested on 20th of April. The prosecutor’s office announced that they are investigating organized group for suspected corruption crimes.

According to unofficial sources, 4 families submitted signals to report irregularities. One of the complaints was submitted personally to the minister of health, Petar Moskov. Unconfirmed information says that the Fund allegedly sent children for treatment abroad, to particular hospitals, with an agreement that part of the funds for the treatment will be returned to the management of the Fund. And instead of accommodating the children in hotels, they were accommodated in private apartments abroad.

Hours after the arrests, the Head of the Fund was dismissed and was replaced by Professor Vladimir Pilosof.

The arrests took place on the day the Fund was due to hold a meeting of its civil council, a group that reviews requests by parents for financial support for the treatment of nearly 50 children. The meeting of the council was not held.

The new management of the fund will meet on 21sts of April to decide on the cases which were not reviewed on 20th of April. More details from the investigation are expected.