Former director of the “Customs“ Agency Petya Bankova has a serious oncological disease and has not been called for questioning after her release. This was shared with FACTI by her lawyer Adelina Natina. Bankova, as head of the “Customs“ Agency, is being investigated in the case of an Organized Crime Group for cigarette smuggling. A few days ago, Nikola Nikolov-Paskal was returned to Bulgaria from Serbia, who is also alleged to be part of the scheme. Before the Anti-Corruption Commission, he provided specific data on participation in a smuggling channel by Marin and Stefan Dimitrov, Petya Bankova, Zhivko Kotsev, as well as Assen Vassilev and Boyko Rashkov. What's next… Lawyer Adelina Natina speaks to FACTI.
- Lawyer Natina, at what stage is the case against Ms. Bankova? We see that there are new interrogators, I mean Nikola Nikolov – Pascal, new testimonies…
- Last year, Ms. Bankova was charged with official misconduct, and at a later stage as a participant in an organized criminal group (OCG) for cigarette smuggling. When we went for this procedural and investigative action, we were presented with a decree for partial termination of Marin Dimitrov's participation in all the work, because his accusation, as a participant in an OCG for cigarette smuggling, was not proven. Then - after quite a long delay by the court, the decree of Marin Dimitrov was changed, because he did not commit a crime, because there is no organized criminal group for cigarette smuggling. And this is so because in principle there is no cigarette smuggling, but rather a matter of evasion from customs import.
- And what does it turn out, there is no organized criminal group…
- Just to add. Evasion from customs import is an administrative penalty, for which a fine is provided. Smuggling is already – in itself, a crime of a general nature
- And how is Mrs. Bankova, we know that she has health problems?
- She is not well. Her treatment continues. At the moment, no one can make a definitive commitment to how Mrs. Bankova's illness will develop.
- Nikola Nikolov - Pascal gave testimony that allegedly mentioned Assen Vassilev and Boyko Rashkov. Does this change the entire case… And where is Mrs. Bankova in the whole thing?
- As far as I listened to the explanations of his defense attorney - colleague Markovski, that Pascal Marin Dimitrov told him about these things. I am not familiar with the testimony itself, with the explanations itself and I cannot say anything. But I have been saying the following since day one of this case. Mrs. Bankova has been the director of the “Customs“ Agency for 40 days. She is an outsider for the “Customs“ Agency, she is a person who has never worked there. How does Bankova create an organized crime group in 40 days? This is very frivolous. They somehow get away with saying that Petya Bankova went there and in 40 days built an organized crime group!?
- Otherwise, how do you see the case itself. In what direction is it moving based on the documents you have seen?
- We have not seen the case itself and I have no information about it. After the change under Marin Dimitrov, the case was in the composition of the Sofia City Court. It is very likely that work was done on it, but I have no information?
- How do you view what Nikola Nikolov – Pascal said…
- I leave with the impression that Nikola Nikolov is trying to improve his situation in order to get a lighter sentence. This is not something unknown in our criminal practice. It is normal practice when a defendant decides that he wants to alleviate his situation. I have no information about what Pascal said, because his lawyer tells him some things, the court says others… I don't know what exactly it is about. When the case - according to the prosecutor's office - is ready to be brought to court, when all the evidence has been collected, then all the accused call us and give us each enough time to read and familiarize ourselves with the charges. In truth, last year we had gone in this direction, because there were even certain dates on which we were to go and read, but then the prosecutor's office called me and said that they would investigate further. After that, we haven't seen anything.
- Lawyer Natina, you are also the only candidate for a member of the new Anti-Corruption Commission who was not nominated by the government. The other three are Maria Daskalova, Petar Koev and Stoyan Petkov. How are things developing there?
- There is a report submitted - a proposal from the parliament to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which must meet and consider the report. The Anti-Corruption Commission has the right by law to call us in for an interview itself, if it deems fit. After that, the Anti-Corruption Commission will make a draft proposal to the parliament, where they will now have to vote on the new composition. There are four of us, and the parliament must choose three.