WORLD : Bulgarian Faces Decades in Jail

Ousted leader Todor Zhivkov, who was arrested last week, faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted of misuse of state property, it was reported today.

According to the newspaper Pogled, Zhivkov could serve from 10 years to 30 years in jail if convicted of illegally “receiving an especially large amount of public property.” He has been accused of having about 30 hunting or holiday retreats.

Another charge against him, “inciting ethnic hostility and hatred,” carries a maximum of three years, it said. Zhivkov also faces charges of abusing his power during his nearly 35-year rule, which is punishable by imprisonment of between three and 10 years, it said.