4.  The applicant was born in 1968 and lives in Plovdiv. 5.  On 4 October 1990 the applicant and his alleged accomplice D.E. were charged with attempt to theft of two boxes of ham. On the same day the investigator questioned them and interviewed one witness. Two more witnesses were interviewed on 22 May 1992. 6.  On 6 July 1992 the preliminary investigation was concluded and the file was sent to the prosecutor. On 14 August 1992 the proceedings were stayed because the investigating authorities could not find and question D.E. 7.  From 14 August 1992 until December 1999 the case remained dormant. 8.  In December 1999 the investigation authorities started working on the case. On 7 November 2001 the investigator ordered a fresh expert report to assess the value of the stolen goods. On 6 February and 4 June 2002 the applicant was charged again with the same offence. In the meantime the investigator questioned the applicant and interviewed witnesses. 9.  On 23 August 2002 the investigation was concluded. On 22 November 2002 an indictment was filed with the Plovdiv District Court. Between November 2002 and February 2006 the court held six hearings. One of them was adjourned on the ground of the absence of a member of the panel and three of them on the ground of the absence of witnesses. Two hearings were adjourned because either the applicant or his lawyer did not appear. 10.  Upon the prosecutor’s request, on 21 December 2005 the court discontinued the criminal proceedings against the applicant on the ground that the statute of limitations had expired. 11.  On 8 June 1992 the applicant was questioned by the police in relation to an attempted aggravated theft of various domestic equipment items perpetrated the previous day. He confessed to the offence. The investigating authorities heard witnesses and seized some of the stolen items. 12.  On 17 July 1992 criminal proceedings were opened against the applicant and his alleged accomplice A.M. 13.  From 17 July 1992 until 7 February 2002 the case remained dormant. 14.  On 7 February 2002 the investigation authorities questioned a witness. Between February and April 2002 the investigating authorities questioned several witnesses and ordered an expert report to assess the value of the stolen domestic equipment. On 2 April 2002 the applicant was charged and questioned. The investigation was concluded on 28 May 2003. 15.  On 8 July 2003 an indictment was filed with the Plovdiv District Court. The first hearing, listed for 2 March 2004, was adjourned because of the applicant’s absence. Following a court’s decision ordering the applicant’s detention, on 17 March 2004 the applicant was remanded in custody. 16.  The court held another hearing on 13 October 2004. On 11 January 2005 the court approved a plea bargain agreement between the applicant and the prosecuting authorities where the applicant confessed to the offence and was sentenced to three months of imprisonment.