The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has recognised as a suspect the Director of the State Revenue Service (SRS) Customs Criminal Board in relation to false statement in the public official’s annual asset declaration and unlawful participation in property transactions.

Information obtained during the criminal proceedings allows to consider that the public official of the SRS has violated provisions of the law „On Conflict of Interest Prevention in the Activities of Public Officials” and the Rules of the Cabinet of Ministers, namely from 2002 – 2007 he has participated in property transactions prohibited by law to person holding this public office and has provided false information on income on a large scale during this period of time.

Investigator of KNAB leading these proceedings considers that the evidence gathered is sufficient in order to recognise the official of SRS as a suspect for committing the offences stated in the Article 326 (1) and 219 (2).[1]

This decision has been taken on 26 May 2008, and the defence counsel chosen by the defendant was informed about it, asking to transmit this information to the defendant and asking him to visit KNAB in order to be informed about the decision and express his views regarding the suspicions stated. The official of the SRS got acquainted with the decision on 8 July 2008.

The following security measures are applied to the suspect: providing contact information for correspondence and restriction to leave the country.

Information regarding recognition of the Director of the SRS Customs Criminal Board as a suspect and the security measures used was sent to the Minister of Finance and the General Director of SRS.

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[1] Section 219. Avoiding Submission of Declaration
(1) For a person who commits non-submission of a declaration of income, property or transactions, or other declaration of a financial nature on the basis of a warning by those State institutions, which are entitled to request the submission of such declarations,
the applicable sentence is deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding sixty times the minimum monthly wage.

(2) For a person who commits intentionally setting out false information in a declaration of income, property or transactions, or other declaration of a financial nature prescribed by law, if commission thereof is repeated, or if false information is indicated regarding property or other income on a large scale,
the applicable sentence is deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding four years, or community service, or a fine not exceeding one hundred times the minimum monthly wage.

Section 326. Unlawful Participation in Property Transactions
(1) For a person who commits facilitating property transactions or participating in such transactions, if commission thereof is for purposes of acquiring property or due to other personal interest by a State official who, in connection with his or her official position, is prohibited from such transactions by law,
the applicable sentence is deprivation of liberty for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred times the minimum monthly wage.