Sofia court declares former MRF deputy leader Hristo Biserov a wanted man
The Sofia City Court has ordered a nationwide search for Hristo Biserov, former deputy speaker of the National Assembly and former deputy leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, after he failed on December 17 to appear to give evidence in the trial of Oktai Enimehmedov for the alleged attempted murder of Ahmed Dogan.
Biserov could not be found at any of his known addresses, including the one to which a summons was sent in connection with the allegations facing Biserov in connection with alleged money laundering and document fraud.
Biserov was required as a witness in the trial of Enimehmedov, the 25-year-old man who pointed a gas pistol at the head of Dogan at the MRF party congress in the Bulgarian capital city on January 19.
The court told the Interior Ministry to establish the whereabouts of Biserov, who on November 3 stepped down from all parliamentary and party posts, citing personal reasons. Five days later, the Prosecutor’s Office announced that it was investigating him, and on November 15 said that it had pressed charges of money laundering and document fraud against Biserov.
Biserov’s stepson, Ivaylo Glavinkov, faces the same charge of money laundering – namely “carrying out financial operations with assets ($314 529 and 117 192 euro) that he knew or suspected to have been acquired in a criminal manner”, the prosecutor’s office statement said at the time.
Biserov and Glavinkov were charged under article 253, paragraph 1 of Bulgaria’s Penal Code, and face between one and six years imprisonment if found guilty. Separately, Biserov was charged under article 313 of the Penal Code, which stipulates between one and three years imprisonment for failing to provide an accurate declaration of assets (which he, as a member of Parliament, was required to do by law.)
Biserov previously has failed to attend a hearing in the trial of Enimehmedov. The court requires him to give evidence because Biserov is able to give evidence which has a particular bearing on the case.
