Sofia, September 10 (BTA) - The Protection Bureau will be transferred from the direct authority of the Prosecutor General and placed under the control of the Ministry of Justice, according to draft amendments to the Act on Protection of Persons Threatened in Connection with Criminal Proceedings which the parliamentary Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee approved conclusively on Friday.

There Is Such a People, Democratic Bulgaria, Rise Up BG! Here We Come! and BSP for Bulgaria back the transfer of the Bureau, arguing that since it was vested with police functions, it has turned into a paramilitary unit giving excessive powers to the Prosecutor General.

The Bureau's annual budget approximates 10 million leva. It is currently protecting about a dozen witnesses in criminal cases and three magistrates, including Geshev himself.

Speaking at the Committee meeting, Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev argued that such a move will pose a risk to the witnesses and magistrates that are protected, and a number of Bureau employees might quit.

"The prosecution service will not be responsible for the consequences of this reform," Geshev added. He described the Bureau as "an efficient and effective entity"

He said later that he will approach the Constitutional Court about the transfer of all tangible fixed assets used by the Bureau, including its building, from the judiciary to the Justice Ministry.

At its meeting on Friday, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee tried yet again to vote on first reading provisions amending the Judicial System Act according to which the specialized courts and prosecution offices would be closed down.

The Prosecutor General insisted that these proposed revisions would be "disastrous". "These bills are destroying something that is doing a good job and is the best thing when it comes to fighting crime," Geshev said on his way into the committee meeting. According to him, this would lead to cases against oligarchs being quashed and might unfreeze assets belonging to the mafia.

Next, the legislative amendments approved on Friday at the committee stage are to be put to a plenary vote. MY/LG