Appeal Hearing Reveals Details of Smuggling Operations and bribery involving Asen Vasilev Driving School
The third witness in the trial against Lachezar Stavrev, the enigmatic driving instructor accused of smuggling and people trafficking, has shed light on the massive sums generated from these illicit operations. The revelation came to light during a hearing at the Sofia Appeal Court, where a measure for Stavrev’s immediate detention was being discussed.
The secret witness also detailed how Stavrev manipulated checkpoints, with these testimonies presented by the Sofia Appellate Prosecutor’s Office today. Furthermore, it emerged that Stefan Dimitrov, who along with his father Marin Dimitrov was previously arrested for another smuggling case, had volunteered to testify at the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, as reported by "24 Hours" newspaper.
Stavrev’s lawyer, Lubomir Tsekov, argued that the entire case against his client rested on the testimonies of Petya Bankova and Stefan Dimitrov, both of whom are co-defendants. He also mentioned the testimonies of Yan Popov, a former ministry of finance guard, who claimed that Stavrev ordered him to manipulate the visitor logs. In response, lawyer Tsekov stated that his client had provided a statement to investigator Albina Dimitrova of the Anti-Corruption Commission as early as April.
Stavrev himself requested a lighter measure of detention, and the court’s decision is awaited. Stay tuned for more updates on this significant ongoing trial, and follow us on Google News Showcase for comprehensive, up-to-date coverage.
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