Scheme for diverting funds from public procurement for road safety uncovered
Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev announced the uncovering of a large-scale financial scheme related to public procurement for road infrastructure maintenance. According to official information, funds intended for the purchase and installation of guardrails on Bulgarian roads were being diverted to private companies.
Investigative authorities describe these firms as "piggy bank companies." Through them, public money was redirected to cover the personal expenses of political figures. The ministry's report states that some of these funds were used to pay for flights for Delyan Peevski.
The Ministry of Interior has launched a full audit of all contracts concluded by the Road Infrastructure Agency over the last few years. The goal is to establish the exact amount of the missing funds and to identify all individuals involved in the illegal scheme to drain the state budget.
The case has sparked a wide public outcry, as it involves funds that were meant to ensure greater safety for drivers on Bulgarian roads. The prosecution is expected to initiate pre-trial proceedings against the responsible officials once sufficient evidence has been gathered in the case.
Authorities promise full transparency in the investigation and emphasize that the fight against high-level corruption remains a top priority. New details regarding the financial flows and the companies involved are expected to be presented in the coming weeks.