New testimony in the investigation against Lachezar Stavrev, who was an associate of Assen Vassilev, was presented in court after the interrogation of six people, BTA reported.
Among them is a protected witness. Stavrev appealed his detention, but will continue to be in custody due to the accusation that he participated in money laundering, criminal collusion with a person holding a public office and abuse of office. The court decision is final.
With the testimony of a protected witness who claims to have seen Lachezar Stavrev take money from a customs checkpoint, the prosecution supported the accusations that he gave orders to the former director of the "Customs" agency Petya Bankova to appoint and re-appoint employees, and then collected bribes from them for smuggling cigarettes and perfumes, as well as from passing migrants and beggars.
"Yes, we are talking about specific amounts, for a specific checkpoint. Other actions in the investigation are pending. This witness's testimony is also to be verified using the relevant methods of the Criminal Procedure Code," said prosecutor Yulian Lefterov.
In addition to the testimony of the protected witness, the protocols from the interrogation of five more people were also presented in the courtroom. They were sent this morning to the appeals prosecutor, although according to Lachezar Stavrev's lawyer they were also present at the first hearing on the measure.
Again, according to the defendant's defense attorney, neither Lachezar Stavrev nor Asen Vassilev, whose name was again mentioned in the courtroom, was detected during the wiretapping, recording and filming by the investigators.
"It is unlikely that Asen Vassilev's driver could have influenced anyone. It is undeniable that after the request for the imposition of the most severe measure "detention in custody" indicated that Asen Vassilev was the other participant without any such allegations from the prosecution, things are clear - that is, the target is Asen Vassilev", explained lawyer Lyubomir Tsekov.
Lachezar Stavrev also asked to be released today. This time because of the health condition of his parents and brother, who have a degree of disability, and he recalled that he had cooperated from the beginning of the investigation.
However, the court considered that there were reasonable assumptions that Stavrev had committed the crimes he was accused of and that he could influence the collection of evidence. Therefore, it left him in custody.