"The Impudent" Member Early Release from Prison Was Reversed by Appeal Court

Lyubomir Dimitrov aka the Rower, who had been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment in the trial against the kidnapping gang “The Impudent”, will not be released from prison earlier than scheduled, Sofia Court of Appeals ruled on 1^st of June, overturning the decision of the first instance court.

In the coming days, the appeal court is expected to rule on the case with the member of the kidnapping gang, Ivaylo Evtomov, who had been sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment and was also granted an early release by the first instance court.

After the early release decisions were announced in the media, they provoked a negative public reaction, followed by a wave of political comments and ideas for law changes.

Unlike the first instance court, Sofia Court of Appeals says that the evidence of rehabilitation of the convicted is not sufficiently convincing and realistic. Despite the demonstrated good behaviour in prison, Lyubomir Dimitrov previously led a predatory and manipulative way of life, the magistrates pointed out. According to the appeal court, the pending trial for 2 murders has no bearing on the rehabilitation of the convicted person, because it relates to historical acts.