The first court hearing of a European Public Prosecutor’s Office case took place in Bulgarian court. The thirty eight-year-old defendant Trayan Deliagov, a Genеral Expert employed at the State Fund Agriculture, has been in custody since September last year, 24 Chassa daily informs. The man charged with bribery to the tune of EUR 2,500 was brought to court for his first hearing. 

The defendant received a bribe from farmer Iliya Gangov from the village of Stroevo, Plovdiv district. Gangov owns 3 companies for production and trade in grain, oilseed crops, fruits and vegetables. He was approved for EU funding and was supposed to receive EUR 300,000, but the payment was delayed. Then he contacted Deliagov who asked for a commission to solve the problem. The farmer paid the bribe and received part of the payments. However, the state official asked for more money for the rest of the EU funds. Farmer Iliya Gangov reported blackmail. The official was detained on September 2, 2021.