Stanislav Hristov, head of the pathology department at Sofia’s Alexandrovska Hospital, was released on 2000 leva bail by Sofia city court on March 31 2008. Hristov told reporters that he might not be able to afford the 2000 leva bail and might stay under house arrest.

Hristov was arrested on March 17 2008 on charges of trading human bones and tissue.

Prosecutors said that Hristov had performed 98 illegal extractions of bones, tendons and other tissues, which were then sold – mainly in the US.

He had offered 800 leva to the families of people who had died in exchange for their permission to perform the procedure. Hristov denied the accusations but was placed under house arrest.