29 pre-trial proceedings initiated for fraud with disability certificates
Speaking at a hearing in Bulgaria’s Parliament on 22nd of February, the Minister of Interior said that 29 pre-trial proceedings for fraud with disability assesments have been initiated in the first two months of the year.
Speaking at a hearing in Bulgaria’s Parliament on 22nd of February, the Minister of Interior said that 29 pre-trial proceedings have been initiated in the first two months of the year.
One of the most striking cases is in Pleven, where two people have been certified with 100% blindness and need of help, but at the same time they drive cars.
One received BGN 26,000, the other BGN 41,000 in benefits. Between BGN 600 and 2,500 on average received the intermediaries for the issue of fake documents of Work Capability Assessment Commissions, according to MoI data.
Mladen Marinov, Minister of the Interior: The ten areas with the largetx number of disability certificates issued by Work Capability Assessment Commissions are Silistra - 28,61% of the population, Vratsa - 19,29%, Gabrovo - 19,04%, Razgrad - 18,31%, Montana 17,54 %, Pernik 16.97%, Pleven - 15.96%, Kyustendil - 14.89%, Sofia-District - 14.75%, Lovech - 14.5% 2.In 2019, a total of 29 pre-trial proceedings were issued on the territory of the country for procedures and ways to get expert decision from Work Capability Assement Commissions.The first step was most often taken by one of the intermediaries in the scheme, who would ring the patient and remind him that his expert decision expires after a certain period of time. A new re-certification service was then offered, mentioning the price to be paid. In other cases, the patients themselves sought assistance by saying that they had received a letter to appear before Work Capability Assessment Commission and are looking for assistance.
