1968-04-02
Article 277a
(New, SG No. 27/2009, effective 10.04.2009)
(1) A person seeking archeological sites without due permit shall be punished by imprisonment for up to five years.
(2) A person who without due permit performs or orders the performing of on-site archeological excavations, geophysical or underwater studies or performs excavation works in contradiction to the procedure stipulated in the law on the area of an immovable cultural property or in its security zone shall be punished by imprisonment for up to six years and by a fine from BGN two thousand to twenty thousand.
(3) Where technical equipment or motor vehicles have been used to take the actions, the punishment shall be imprisonment from one to six years and a fine from BGN five thousand to fifty thousand.
(4) A person who orders or allows performance of unlawful activities on a protected territory for preservation of cultural heritage, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to five years and by a fine from BGN two thousand to ten thousand.
(5) A person who continues, orders or allows continuation of the activity under paragraph (4) after it was suspended by the due bodies, shall be punished by imprisonment from one to six years and by a fine from BGN three thousand to twenty thousand.
(6) The punishments under paragraphs (4) and (5) shall also be imposed on a person who organizes or supervises the activity, if he knew or assumed that it is performed in contradiction to the Cultural Heritage Act.
(7) A person who unlawfully prepares, holds or conceals items, materials, tools or computer programs, which he knows or assumes are intended or have been used for seeking, keeping, changing or transportation of archaeological sites, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to six years, whereas the court may also rule to impose deprivation of right under Article 37 (1) item 7.
(8) In the cases under paragraph 1 - 6 the court may rule confiscation of up to one half of the property of the culprit and under paragraph (7) - of part or of the whole property of the culprit.
