67 railway tracks left behind off the main road, were stolen from the section between Sliven and Gurkovo. The police in Sliven are working on the case, and two men have been arrested in Tvarditsa, who have not been criminally charged so far. In all probability they have accomplices. The district prosecutor's office in Sliven has initiated pre-trial proceedings.
Ivan Danchev, vice-chairman of the railway workers' union, told BNT that the theft was impossible to carry out without equipment - truck, tractor, crane, etc., since the rails weigh between 80 and 120 tons. According to him, although the damages are for a serious amount, it is impossible to guard the tracks, since the expanded length of the railway tracks in Bulgaria is 4000-4500 km.
According to the Penal Code, the theft and delivery of railway materials for scrap is punishable by imprisonment from 5 to 15 years. Since the two detainees have no criminal history, the possible sentence would be suspended, say the prosecutor's office unofficially.