Bulgaria’s Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev said that a second trial would be launched in connection with embezzlement from municipal tram and trolley bus repair company Tramcar.

On December 12 2007, the prosecutors’ office announced that it would put Tramcar director Hristisko Vretenarov on trial for embezzlement.

The second trial would be of municipal company Electrotransport director Yordan Vassilev, mediapool.bg said. Vretenarov allegedly said in a confession that Vassilev had taken part in embezzlement.

It was possible that the second trial would start as early as December 13 2007.

Within a week the trial of Valentin Dimitrov, former director of another municipal company, Toplofikatsiya, would start, Velchev said. Dimitrov faces embezzlement charges.

By mid-January 2008 a trial of former director of municipal company Ozelenyavane (Grassing) Lyubomir Nikov will start. Nikov is accused of dereliction and malfeasance in office.

Former ViK Sofia director Boris Stoichkov was accused of money drainage and malfeasance, Velchev said.

“All these trials show that the problem of financial and judicial discipline in municipal companies in Sofia is dramatic,” Velchev said.