The Audit Committee of the National Assembly held another shocking meeting. Today, Svetoslav Ilchovski did not take part in it, and the apple of discord between GERB and other political parties became the activity of the state-owned company “Avtomagistrali“, which received billions from in-house procedures from the Road Agency for various projects.
The opposition claims that there was non-transparent spending of state money. The projects of “Avtomagistrali“ are worth approximately BGN 5 billion, and at the same time from answers to questions from MPs it became clear that the company owns 13 excavators, 131 trucks, 4 rollers, 2 tractors, 3 drones and only 30 engineers, said the Chairman of Commission Maya Manolova. She asked:
„Given the fact that in 2 years the assignment is nearly 5 billion, with this modest equipment and staff it is an extremely curious question how the projects were implemented – by outsourcing these construction and maintenance activities. “Avtomagistrali“ is more kindly a buffer, a cash register through which some money of the Bulgarian taxpayers passes. How are contractors selected, at what prices are the activities, what is the control, what is the responsibility?”
Manolova gave an example with companies with which contracts have been concluded – “PST Group”, “Geostroy”, “Galchev Engineering”, “Groma Hold”, GBS and so on. Prof. Rumen Gechev from BSP added:
„You distribute almost 5% of GDP to a trio of managers you’ve appointed, and it’s not clear how they chose the companies – whether they got the companies over the phone or on a note, it doesn’t matter.“
Almost the entire GERB parliamentary group was present during the meeting again. They supported the regional minister Petya Avramova, the managements of “Avtomagistrali” and the Road Agency. Avramova finds it completely normal in construction to rent equipment from companies and to use contractors for the supply of construction materials. The Head of „Avtomagistrali“ Stoyan Belichev also defended the procedures for hiring mechanization and announced that the company does not use subcontractors.
At the same time, it became clear that the companies were invited not by public invitation, but after a preliminary selection by an internal commission in “Avtomagistrali” Belichev also commented on why millions of levs were given in advance to the companies. According to him, otherwise the projects would not have been implemented.
The conflict became even bigger after Ivaylo Mirchev from „Democratic Bulgaria“ shared about thefts during the construction of roads in the country. GERB was asked to speak with specific names. However, Mirchev replied that the information about the „deals in “Avtomagistrali” „with“ some plates under the table, in which the work is valued and the money is returned„goes to the Prosecutor’s Office. Shortly afterwards, Mirchev wrote on the social network:
„Beating around the bush by Minister Avramova and her company confirmed the dirty secret of GERB – corruption in “Avtomagistrali” is on a universal scale. Here’s how it works: The state-owned company allegedly hires equipment from private companies, but there are no employees to operate it. Therefore, without a public procurement, the equipment is rented at a very high price from many small companies, which in turn provide workers to work with it.
This is unacceptable, but it bypasses public competitions and three people in the state-owned company decide which companies will work on the „Hemus” highway.
The bribery scheme works like this: The amount for renting equipment is many times higher than the market levels. From the higher amount deductions are made for bribes and labor of workers. Corrupt money is given in the huge and abnormal for business advances that the state company provides.
Thus, BGN 5 billion are distributed by 3-5 people subordinate to the Prime Minister. Of these, 30-40% go to the construction of a highway, and the rest sink into the pockets of companies in the Prime Minister’s circle.
The caretaker government has important tasks ahead of it.“
