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Sat, May 26 2012
Former labour minister belonged in jail, Finance Minister says
Simeon Dyankov
Photo: Anelia Nikolova
Former social and labour policy minister Emilia Maslarova, indicted by Sofia prosecutors on February 23 2010 on charges of embezzling 11 million leva during her term in office, belongs in jail, Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov said on March 1 2010.
Dyankov commented on Maslarova's case on private Nova Televisia's nightly talk show Ivan and Andrei. Maslarova and four others were charged with embezzlement, allegedly in relation to renovation works at the Centre for Social Services in Stara Zagora.
"She deserves a long prison sentence and the court will see how taxpayers' money has been wasted," Dyankov said. He said that if the previous government had been a "normal" one, Maslarova would have been stripped of her post and tried long ago.
Ever since speculation about the alleged embezzlement started appearing a few months ago, Maslarova had firmly denied it, claiming she was merely a victim of a smear campaign.
The contract for the repair of the centre had been won by Stara Zagora 2007, a company allegedly linked to Maslarova's partner. Some contracts, like the one for door signs, were signed only days before Maslarova left office. The centre was renovated for 19 million leva, or about 2700 leva for a sq m.
In November 2009, Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev asked MPs to strip Maslarova of her immunity from prosecution, which she had under Bulgarian law as an MP. Maslarova voluntarily renounced her immunity before the request was tabled for debate.
In December 2009, Maslarova was removed from her post as chairperson of Parliament's committee on labour and social policy. Maslarova has always maintained her innocence and claimed that the accusations were groundless.
On February 23 2010, prosecutors charged her and four others with embezzling 11 038 405 leva. Maslarova was freed on 50 000 leva bail. She said she would appeal against the bail sum because she could not pay it.
Regarding the National Revenue Agency's probes into income tax declarations of rich and popular Bulgarians, Dyankov said that there were a group of 50 Bulgarians who were hiding incomes of 300 million leva, 100 million leva of which were unpaid taxes.
"The sum of these unpaid taxes is enough to build one section of Trakiya highway," he said.
As for one popular singer with a decades-long career, who allegedly told NRA that he did not remember the source of much of his income and concert fees over the years, Dyankov said that such "amnesia" was impossible because the star was obviously capable of remembering lyrics from his songs.
Dyankov commented on Maslarova's case on private Nova Televisia's nightly talk show Ivan and Andrei. Maslarova and four others were charged with embezzlement, allegedly in relation to renovation works at the Centre for Social Services in Stara Zagora.
"She deserves a long prison sentence and the court will see how taxpayers' money has been wasted," Dyankov said. He said that if the previous government had been a "normal" one, Maslarova would have been stripped of her post and tried long ago.
Ever since speculation about the alleged embezzlement started appearing a few months ago, Maslarova had firmly denied it, claiming she was merely a victim of a smear campaign.
The contract for the repair of the centre had been won by Stara Zagora 2007, a company allegedly linked to Maslarova's partner. Some contracts, like the one for door signs, were signed only days before Maslarova left office. The centre was renovated for 19 million leva, or about 2700 leva for a sq m.
In November 2009, Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev asked MPs to strip Maslarova of her immunity from prosecution, which she had under Bulgarian law as an MP. Maslarova voluntarily renounced her immunity before the request was tabled for debate.
In December 2009, Maslarova was removed from her post as chairperson of Parliament's committee on labour and social policy. Maslarova has always maintained her innocence and claimed that the accusations were groundless.
On February 23 2010, prosecutors charged her and four others with embezzling 11 038 405 leva. Maslarova was freed on 50 000 leva bail. She said she would appeal against the bail sum because she could not pay it.
Regarding the National Revenue Agency's probes into income tax declarations of rich and popular Bulgarians, Dyankov said that there were a group of 50 Bulgarians who were hiding incomes of 300 million leva, 100 million leva of which were unpaid taxes.
"The sum of these unpaid taxes is enough to build one section of Trakiya highway," he said.
As for one popular singer with a decades-long career, who allegedly told NRA that he did not remember the source of much of his income and concert fees over the years, Dyankov said that such "amnesia" was impossible because the star was obviously capable of remembering lyrics from his songs.
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I absolutely love his comments p go dor it young man, clear them out
"As she has been arrested/indicted, then that village idiot Dyankov has just given her grounds for declaring any trial as being biased and pre-judged in the media - slowing down the course of justice even more."
--Your observations are pretty accurate, but perhaps not digestible for the broad audience. As for the "village idiot," he's clearly more interested in scoring political points by exploiting the mob mentality than in doing anything useful.
In Woolmington v DPP [1935] AC 462, [1935] UKHL 1 (23 May 1935) Viscount Sankey held that
“the presumption of innocence in a criminal case is strong”, and emphasised, that throughout the web of the criminal law,
… one golden thread is always to be seen that it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the prisoner’s guilt … If, at the end of and on the whole of the case, there is a reasonable doubt, created by the evidence given by either the prosecution or the prisoner, as to whether [...]
Read the full comment the prisoner killed the deceased with a malicious intention, the prosecution has not made out the case and the prisoner is entitled to an acquittal. No matter what the charge or where the trial, the principle that the prosecution must prove the guilt of the prisoner is part of the common law … and no attempt to whittle it down can be entertained.
Whether Emilia Masiarova is guilty or innocent is up to the judicial process to decide (weak as it may be). It is not for a government minister to make that decision by himself and then broadcast it on the media. Or, are we really ready to accept that the minister of finanace in Bulgaria is to have the power to decide who is guilty and who is innocent - including any reader of this post?
As she has been arrested/indicted, then that village idiot Dyankov has just given her grounds for declaring any trial as being biased and [...]
Read the full comment pre-judged in the media - slowing down the course of justice even more. He needs a good lesson in how we expect our Ministers to behave and a zip for his mouth. Otherwise this government will be tarnished like all the others.
Minister Djankov is certainly not diplomatic but many of his off-hand remarks appear accurate and hit the mark.. perhaps Boyana studios, scene of many foreign action movies, could be utilized for a movie with a focus on government actions and inactions the previous decade..dashed hopes of voters from Kostov to Stanishev and a King better forgotten. Indeed the charge that much of the "govt" was run by a shadow "criminal" syndicate adds spice to the story..Brussels may even fund it..
People like this ruin Bulgaria, maybe if the millions will ever be recovered they could be used to build big enough jails where the rest of the white collar criminals the so called businessmen of Bulgaria could be put and KEPT for a very long time.
"victim of a smear campaign"? Really? Poor thing! I know how difficult it must be for her to overcome all those years of upper middle class suburban oppression. It must be tough.