It has become clear who two of the remaining three accused in the organized crime group together with the mayor of Varna Blagomir Kotsev are, FOCUS reported, citing its sources.
These are Nikolay Stefanov, Yordan Kateliyev and Ivaylo Marinov.
Nikolay Stefanov
A financier by education. He has achieved professional success in the private sector – in the maritime industry and in real estate investments. Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council – Varna and Chairman of the "Finance and Budget" Committee.
Yordan Kateliev
Entrepreneur and employer in the fields of trade and services with 20 years of experience. Founder and head of the center for refugees from the war in Ukraine - Varna. Director of northeastern Bulgaria of an international NGO. Municipal councilor in the Municipality of Varna.
Ivaylo Marinov
Ivaylo Marinov is a partner in the company "Correct Group Catering", which won the public procurement in question, because of which another company that had won these tenders, as usual until now, filed a report.
Yesterday, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office summoned four defendants and ordered their detention for up to 72 hours in pre-trial proceedings conducted for a corruption crime in the Municipality of Varna.
B. K., N. S., Y. K. and I. M. are held criminally liable for participation in an organized criminal group (OCG), which operated on the territory of the city of Varna from July 2024 to November 19, 2024, with the aim of jointly committing crimes of official misconduct, bribery and money laundering, as the group was created for a profit-making purpose and officials participated in it.
B. K., N. S. and Y. K. are also held criminally liable for the fact that in August 2024 in complicity as perpetrators demanded an amount equal to 15% excluding VAT of BGN 1,523,446, representing the value of a public procurement contract with the subject matter "Preparation and delivery of ready-made food, daily for the needs of social services for children and adults at the Municipality of Varna, including delivery of ready-made food for children and adults in need of a specific diet", in exchange for influence in the decision-making of an official in connection with his service.
The pre-trial proceedings were initiated on 19.11.2024 for a crime under Art. 304a, para. 1, in conjunction with Art. 20, para. 2, in conjunction with Para. 1 of the Criminal Code and are conducted by the Commission for Combating Corruption under the leadership and supervision of the State Prosecutor's Office.
Numerous witnesses were questioned, a large volume of documentation was collected. After analyzing the evidence and at the request of the supervising prosecutor, the Sofia City Court granted permission to conduct a search and seizure in private homes, motor vehicles, offices of commercial companies, and offices in the Varna Municipality building, given the reasonable assumption that documents and other items, including electronic devices, that may be relevant to the case are stored there.
The accused were provided with legal protection.
The investigation into the case continues.