The Sofia City Court is considering the detention order for municipal councilor Anton Brankov, who, together with three other people, is charged with participation in an organized crime group. According to investigators, the group operated in the field of loan distribution. Brankov was sworn in as a councilor just a few days ago.
During the hearing, the prosecutor noted that although the defendants are not in danger of absconding, their release could lead to the commission of new crimes. According to the investigation, the witnesses described the mechanism of the alleged violations, and the seized items and money are to be subjected to an expert examination.
The defense of the four defendants emphasized that none of the witnesses mentioned pressure or coercion in collecting the loans. Anton Brankov's lawyer added that the search warrant coincided with the day Brankov was sworn in as a municipal councilor, but the court rejected this argument.