Bulgarian police arrest man who offered 200 leva bribe
Bulgarian police have arrested a man who attempted a 200 leva bribe after a commercial goods van was pulled over on a motorway and found to be carrying undocumented veal while the driver had no driving licence.
The incident took place on December 15 on Trakiya Motorway and is the latest publicised episode involving either a controversy involving police taking bribes – or arresting someone for trying to bribe them.
Highway police pulled over the vehicle after it was seen being driven erratically and its cargo door window was seen to be broken, the Interior Ministry said.
Recently-introduced regulations, as a step against corruption, require police to be able to state reasons for stopping vehicles, and only authorised traffic police are allowed to do so, while random checks have been forbidden.
Traffic police were called after the driver was unable to produce a driving licence.
While police were checking documents, a 43-year-old man who had been travelling in the truck approached a patrol car, opened the door and put two 100-leva banknotes (about 100 euro) in the door compartment.
In turn, according to the ministry statement, a duty group was called who inspected the vehicle, found the banknotes, and took the man to a police station where he was placed under arrest.
Prosecutors have charged the man with attempted bribery of a public official and he was released on bail of 600 leva, the Interior Ministry said.
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Bulgarian traffic cop filmed taking bribe becomes national anti-hero
Plovdiv cops arrest unlicensed driver who offered 105 leva bribe
