Water Utility Manager in Nessebar Charged Over Bribe.

The head of the water utility company in Nessebar and Pomorie, Svilen Yordanov, has been charged over an alleged request for an 8,000-euro bribe, an offence punishable by up to six years in prison. He was detained on June 26 together with another person holding a senior managerial position in the technical execution of the company’s activities. The two were caught in a vehicle owned by the water utility, with the money inside.

The head of the Vi K – Nessebar unit, with territorial competence for the municipalities of Nessebar and Pomorie, was detained for allegedly requesting and receiving a bribe of eight thousand euros, representatives of the District Prosecutor’s Office and the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry said at a joint briefing. The second person detained during the special operation was released because there was insufficient evidence that he was connected to the sum found in the home. The technical manager, who was also among those detained, has been released, Bulgarian National Television reported.

According to police, a report of corrupt practices was submitted in late May, after which an investigation was immediately launched and witnesses were questioned.

Supervising prosecutor Andrey Chervenyakov said charges had been brought against Svilen Stanchev, who allegedly requested an unlawful benefit of eight thousand euros. The prosecutor specified that the charge is under Article 301 of the Criminal Code, the basic provision for the offence of bribery, and that the possible application of aggravating circumstances may be made at a later stage after analysis of the evidence.

A number of operational measures were carried out to confirm the information, after which witnesses in the case were identified, Nenkov said. At this stage, the investigation will determine whether, beyond this specific case, there may have been broader activity, as the person who wanted to connect his property to the water supply and sewerage network was allegedly told that he first had to meet the director before submitting an official application.

Article 301 of the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of 5,000 euros.