REGIONAL MAYOR OF PLOVDIV ACCUSED OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE

On 27th of February, the specialized anticorruption unit of Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against Dimitar Kolev, the regional mayor of Zapaden (West) region in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv. This is the third indictment in relation to to a procurement for the construction of a zoo park in Plovdiv.

Kolev is accused of malfeasance in office, committed in complicity with the Mayor of Plovdiv Ivan Totev. According to the prosecution, Kolev signed contracts for consultancy and building supervision for the construction of the zoo in the city without the municipality actually participating in the construction process. This way, he gave the mayor the possibility to start the project.

The Mayor of Plovdiv Ivan Totev and his deputy Dimitar Katsarski have already been accused in relation to the case with the choice of contractor for the construction of the the zoo.

On 10th of January, Sofia Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against the Mayor of Plovdiv, Ivan Totev, over malfeasance in office which resulted in damages to the municipality to the amount of 1 million BGN.

Plovdiv District Court ruled on 16th of January to suspend Ivan Totev from office. The request was made by Sofia prosecutor’s office on the grounds that Totev might interfere with the pre-trial investigation.

The prosecution alleged Totev that in 2014 he violated his official duties in relation to a procurement for the construction of a zoo park in Plovdiv. Allegedly, he did not meet the requirements of the existing legislation on public procurement and directly negotiated with the contractor “Zapryanovi 03 ltd”.

On 24th of January, the Appeal Court in Plovdiv ruled to overturn the suspension from office of the Mayor Ivan Totev, which was ordered by the District Court.

The Appeal Court found that Totev’s official post would not impede the investigation. The magistrates ruled that there were not enough grounds that the mayor might influence the witnesses.