Ataka’s Siderov, Chukolov sentenced to salary deduction in plea bargain on hooliganism, assault charges
Ataka leader Volen Siderov and fellow MP Dessislav Chukolov were sentenced on March 22 2016 to deductions of 25 per cent from their MPs’ salaries for two years after pleading guilty in a plea bargain on hooliganism and assault charges arising from a late-night incident at a Sofia alcohol and tobacco shop.
The Sofia City Court ruling was the latest in which Siderov and Chukolov have made plea bargains in connection with charges against them arising from various incidents involving hooliganism and assault.
The court ruled on March 22 that the plea bargain regarding the October 5 2015 incident, in terms of which there will be 25 per cent deductions from the salaries of the two Ataka members and they will have to meet with a probation officer twice a week, would be upheld.
At the beginning of the hearing, Siderov and Chukolov asked for a new plea bargain, reducing the penalties. The court rejected this, finding that by their actions, the two had undermined the authority of the National Assembly.
Chukolov said, “until now, I have given a third of my salary for the needy, now I will not do so”. The previous convictions of the two in terms of plea bargains also provide for deductions from their salaries as MPs.
