No 'Angels': Bulgarians shake down Robbie Williams convoy / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
-
Burning effigy, bamboo crafts at once-a-decade Hong Kong festival
-
Joshua knocks out Paul to win Netflix boxing bout
-
Dogged Hodge ton sees West Indies save follow-on against New Zealand
-
England dig in as they chase a record 435 to keep Ashes alive
-
Wembanyama 26-point bench cameo takes Spurs to Hawks win
-
Hodge edges towards century as West Indies 310-4, trail by 265
-
US Afghans in limbo after Washington soldier attack
-
England lose Duckett in chase of record 435 to keep Ashes alive
-
Australia all out for 349, set England 435 to win 3rd Ashes Test
-
US strikes over 70 IS targets in Syria after attack on troops
-
Australian lifeguards fall silent for Bondi Beach victims
-
Trump's name added to Kennedy Center facade, a day after change
-
West Indies 206-2, trail by 369, after Duffy's double strike
-
US strikes Islamic State group in Syria after deadly attack on troops
-
Epstein files opened: famous faces, many blacked-out pages
-
Ravens face 'special' Patriots clash as playoffs come into focus
-
Newly released Epstein files: what we know
-
Musk wins US court appeal of $56 bn Tesla pay package
-
US judge voids murder conviction in Jam Master Jay killing
-
Trump doesn't rule out war with Venezuela
-
Haller, Aouar out of AFCON, Zambia coach drama
-
Nasdaq rallies again while yen falls despite BOJ rate hike
-
Bologna win shoot-out with Inter to reach Italian Super Cup final
-
Brandt and Beier send Dortmund second in Bundesliga
-
Trump administration begins release of Epstein files
-
UN Security Council votes to extend DR Congo mission by one year
-
Family of Angels pitcher, club settle case over 2019 death
-
US university killer's mystery motive sought after suicide
-
Rubio says won't force deal on Ukraine as Europeans join Miami talks
-
Burkinabe teen behind viral French 'coup' video has no regrets
-
Brazil court rejects new Bolsonaro appeal against coup conviction
-
Three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka to retire in 2026
-
Man Utd can fight for Premier League title in next few years: Amorim
-
Pandya blitz powers India to T20 series win over South Africa
-
Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police
-
IMF approves $206 mn aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah
-
Stocks advance as markets cheer weak inflation
-
Emery says rising expectations driving red-hot Villa
-
Three killed in Taipei metro attacks, suspect dead
-
Seven Colombian soldiers killed in guerrilla attack: army
-
Amorim takes aim at Man Utd youth stars over 'entitlement'
-
Mercosur meets in Brazil, EU eyes January 12 trade deal
-
US Fed official says no urgency to cut rates, flags distorted data
-
Rome to charge visitors for access to Trevi Fountain
-
Spurs 'not a quick fix' for under-fire Frank
-
Poland president accuses Ukraine of not appreciating war support
-
Stocks advance with focus on central banks, tech
-
Amorim unfazed by 'Free Mainoo' T-shirt ahead of Villa clash
-
PSG penalty hero Safonov ended Intercontinental win with broken hand
-
French court rejects Shein suspension
NYSE - LSE
No 'Angels': Bulgarians shake down Robbie Williams convoy
Two Bulgarian officials have been sacked for demanding bribes from a lorry convoy carrying equipment for British pop star Robbie Williams's tour, authorities said on Monday.
The transport officers asked the lorry drivers to slip them 500 euros ($587) during a routine traffic check, resorting to Google Translate when the British drivers were unable to understand their request, police commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov told a news conference.
"They even asked those who didn't have cash to go to an ATM," he said.
Bribe-taking is a widespread practice in Bulgaria. But the incident, which happened on Thursday near the capital, Sofia, surprised Williams's tour convoy drivers, who filed a complaint.
Transport Minister Grozdan Karadzhov told local media the two longtime officers had been sacked as a result.
The pair were also detained on Sunday and charged, Sofia deputy prosecutor Desislava Petrova told AFP.
"Robbie Williams is more efficient at fighting corruption than Bulgarian institutions," joked one internet wit in Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union.
Road traffic is a "gold mine" for corrupt Bulgarian officials, said Tihomir Bezlov, an organised crime expert at the Centre for the Study of Democracy think tank in Sofia.
Williams, the 51-year-old singer-songwriter known for such hits as "Rock DJ", "Come Undone" and "Angels", played Sofia on Sunday night as part of his "Britpop" tour.
L.Durand--AMWN