Bulgarian Armory-Chiefs Accused of Contraband to Sudan Released

By Novinite

SOFIA, Oct 18, 2003 –The three detained men linked to the illegal exports of arm parts from Bulgaria to UN-embargoed Sudan were released by Sofia City Court on Saturday.

Later in the day Bulgaria’s National Inquest Services declined to execute the decision of Sofia City Court for releasing the three suspects linked to the illegal exports of arm parts from Bulgaria to UN-embargoed Sudan.However, it was explained that the misunderstanding was caused by some disorder in the case documents . Ivanov, Georgiev and Kratunov were released later on Saturday.

The smuggling scandal broke out Thursday as police arrested the current director of the Beta arms factory based in Bulgarian town of Chervyen Bryag and his predecessor– Ruslan Ivanov and Lyudmil Georgiev. The two are suspected of arranging exports of parts for self-propelled howitzers to Africa’s largest country. The jobbery allegedly brought them some BGN 1 M.

Later on October 17, the Bulgarian News Agency BTA reported that a third person has been detained by the National Investigation Service over the illegal arms deal. The arrestee — Nikolay Kratunov — is chairman of the RIK cooperation, which has reportedly served as an intermediary in the operation.

Sofia City Court dismissed the three men’s detainment as illegal. However, the court confirmed the bails that were set for the three detainees.