The Sofia City Court released Nikola Nikolov - Pascal, alleged to be the number one smuggler in our country, from arrest on bail of 50 thousand leva. The decision was made today after the prosecution insisted on permanent arrest, while the defense wanted a lighter measure of detention.
In the courtroom, it became clear that during his interrogation before the Anti-Corruption Commission, Nikolov gave specific data about participation in a smuggling channel by Martin and Stefan Dimitrov, Petya Bankova, Zhivko Kotsev, as well as Assen Vassilev and Boyko Rashkov, bTV reported.
In court, Nikolov stated that he needed treatment: "I want a lighter measure of detention so that I can have surgery in Germany".
The prosecution argued its request for permanent arrest with evidence from searches, seizures, special intelligence means and photographic material. According to the state prosecution, Nikolov participated in an organized criminal group for cigarette smuggling and maintained contacts with the Dimitrov father and son to organize smuggling channels across the Bulgarian borders.
However, the court considered that the testimonies of the questioned witnesses contained limited information about Pascal, while his own testimony revealed details about the logistics of the smuggling – transport companies, drivers and methods for crossing the borders of cigarettes.
In his testimony before the Anti-Corruption Commission, Nikolov revealed specifics about joint trips abroad with the organized crime group and provided data on the smuggling channel, indicating that he had provided logistical assistance with information about transport companies and drivers.
Later after the hearing, lawyer Dimitar Markovski clarified to the media that his client did not personally know Kotsev, Bankova, Rashkov and Vassilev, and the information about their participation in smuggling came from what Stefan Dimitrov had told him.
The decision of the Sofia City Court is not final and can be appealed within three days.