© Anelia Nikolova
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Customs officers, detained at the end of 2016 for systematic collection of bribes from truck drivers and carriers, were released from criminal liability and got rid of an administrative penalty of a fine of 5 thousand levs at second instance, the prosecutor’s office said. In the first instance, they were acquitted.
The seven customs officers at the Lesovo border checkpoint were found guilty of using their official position as officials to obtain money for themselves in various currencies. The crime was committed in the period from March 2014 to the beginning of November 2014.
At its hearing today, the Appellate Specialized Court held that there was sufficient evidence of their guilt. The law provides for a penalty of up to 3 years in prison for the crime committed, but the defendants were not convicted of crimes of a general nature and therefore they were released from criminal liability and imposed an administrative penalty – a fine.
The court confiscated in favor of the state all sums of money in various currencies seized during the search and seizure of the Lesovo customs checkpoint. The decision is final and not subject to appeal.
At the time of the arrests, customs officials were reported to have collected $ 50 to $ 400 from carriers and drivers in exchange for a quick and smooth passage of customs control.
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