BULGARIA – CRIMINAL CODE

GENERAL PART

Chapter Five - METING OUT OF PUNISHMENTS

Article 54
(2) The attenuating circumstances shall condition the infliction of a milder punishment, and the aggravating ones of a severer punishment.

Article 55
(1) In case of exceptional or of a great number of attenuating circumstances, where even the mildest punishment provided by law proves disproportionately severe, the court:

1. shall fix a punishment under the lowest limit;

2. shall substitute:

a) (Amended, SG No. 153/1998) life imprisonment for deprivation of liberty for a term from fifteen to twenty years;

b) (Amended, SG No. 28/1982, SG No. 10/1993, SG No. 62/1997, amended and supplemented, SG No. 92/2002 - effective 01.01.2005, with respect to the punishment of probation, amended, SG No. 26/2004, SG No. 103/2004) deprivation of liberty, where the lowest limit has not been specified - for probation, and with respect to minors - for probation or public censure.

c) (Amended, SG Nos. No. 28/1982, SG No. 10/1993, SG No. 62/1997, SG No. 92/2002, SG No. 103/2004) probation - for a fine BGN of one hundred (100) up to five hundred (500)

(2) In the cases of sub-paragraph 1 of the preceding paragraph where the punishment is a fine, the court may specify punishment under the lowest limit by one half at most.

(3) In such cases the court may not impose the lesser punishment provided by law along with punishment by deprivation of liberty.

(4) (Repealed, SG No. 28/1982).

Article 56
The circumstances considered by law in defining the respective crime shall not be attenuating and aggravating circumstances.

BULGARIA – CRIMINAL CODE

GENERAL PART

Chapter Five - METING OUT OF PUNISHMENTS

Article 56
The circumstances considered by law in defining the respective crime shall not be attenuating and aggravating circumstances.

Article 76
Sentencing
1. In the event of a conviction, the Trial Chamber shall consider the appropriate sentence to be imposed and shall take into account the evidence presented and submissions made during the trial that are relevant to the sentence.
2. Except where article 65 applies and before the completion of the trial, the Trial Chamber may on its own motion and shall, at the request of the Prosecutor or the accused, hold a further hearing to hear any additional evidence or submissions relevant to the sentence, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
3. Where paragraph 2 applies, any representations under article 75 shall be heard during the further hearing referred to in paragraph 2 and, if necessary, during any additional hearing.
4. The sentence shall be pronounced in public and, wherever possible, in the presence of the accused.

Article 78
Determination of the sentence
1. In determining the sentence, the Court shall, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, take into account such factors as the gravity of the crime and the individual circumstances of the convicted person.
2. In imposing a sentence of imprisonment, the Court shall deduct the time, if any, previously spent in detention in accordance with an order of the Court. The Court may deduct any time otherwise spent in detention in connection with conduct underlying the crime.
3. When a person has been convicted of more than one crime, the Court shall pronounce a sentence for each crime and a joint sentence specifying the total period of imprisonment. This period shall be no less than the highest individual sentence pronounced and shall not exceed 30 years imprisonment or a sentence of life imprisonment in conformity with article 77, paragraph 1 (b).