One of the high-profile cases for draining tens of millions from VAT, known as “The Untouchables“, again came to suspended sentences at first instance. But not for all the accused. One of them – Rumen Lazarov, associated with the group of the murdered Martin Bozhanov – the Notary, turned out to be more untouchable than the others. In ” Atanasov’s list” for the Notary’s group, it is alleged that he paid 1 million euros for its untouchability. It was in this case that the Special Surveillance Devices were read in courtroom, in which it was discussed how to pay bribe of the former (Prosecutor General) Ivan Geshev.
For the second time, “The Untouchables” were convicted at first instance, again with suspended sentences. През октомври 2018 г. Judge Plamen Panayotov of the Specialized Court found Bozhidar Lashkov, Hristo Petrov and Daniel Boyadzhiev, Kiril Dimitrov, Tsvetan Kolev and Pavel Alexandrov guilty. Asen Dishov did not wait for the verdicts, he died before the end of the trial. The group is accused of draining of VAT. Another of the detainees in this proceeding, who, however, was not charged – Vasil Lazarov narrowly escaped death after being beaten and cut
from a punitive brigade, but this is a separate story. The investigation against him was terminated by the former prosecutor and On February 23 this year, Judge Maria Kavrakova-Arsheva pronounced convictions in criminal case No. 2884/2020 against
Bozhidar Lashkov, Daniel Boyadzhiev, Tsvetan Kolev and Hristo Petrov. During the action against the group, 11 people were initially detained, but some of them escaped without charges. The case was first brought to court in 2014. over BGN 145 million. drained VAT. През 2018 г. съдия Пламен Панайотов осъжда шестимата обвиняеми. Специализирания апелативен съд обаче връща делото на първата инстанция поради допуснати процесуални нарушения. Първата инстанция пък го връща на фаза досъдебно производство. И така четири пъти!
Five and a half years later, four of the original six convicts were again found guilty of draining VAT. But None of them will be in prison for their actions.
Agreement
The case against the “Untouchables” became emblematic after in 2011 some of the members of the group agreed with the state prosecution, admitting that they were an organized criminal group (OCG). Then for the Prosecutor’s Office agreement was signed by the future Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev. Това вероятно е първото успешно дело срещу ОПГ за Софийска градска прокуратура (СГП). Факт е, че осъденият Lashkov is a former partner of the then Prosecutor General Boris Velchev. In view of this fact, the suspicion remains that the Prosecutor’s Office has approached this organized crime group leniently.
Another indisputable fact is that the case for tax crimes against those who confessed to being organized crime groups never starts. The case, in which there are convictions at first instance today, is the result of the work that continued on the group after the agreement signed on August 3, 2011.
When the case of the group’s tax crimes went to trial before the Specialized Court, it became clear that in the materials of the investigation there were material evidence (SSDs) from the Special Surveillance Devices (here, here, here and here) in which it was alleged that Ivan Geshev had been given a bribe. Въпреки усилията на BIRD, екипът ни не успея да достигне до иначе публичните протоколи от заседанията. From read in court Special Surveillance Devices it is understood that the Untouchables agree to pay 50,000 euros to prosecutors.
The Relationship with the Notary Public
When the case started for the second time, the prosecution was supported by prosecutors Kiril Peychinov and Iveta Markovic. Peychinov is among the prosecutors who are being investigated in the case ” The Eight Dwarfs” for connections with Pepi the Euro. During the pre-trial proceedings of 2009, Rumen Lazarov was also a member of the organized crime group. He is associated with Vladko Lazarinov Dimitrov, who is the leader of those who confessed to being an organized crime group in 2011. The materials against Lazarov were separated in a separate proceeding. It was assigned to investigators Ilian Tanchev and Lyubomir Georgiev. Both are close to the leadership of the National Criminal Investigation Service and in particular to the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov.
In 2013, the case against Rumen Lazarov was dismissed, again by prosecutors Ivan Geshev and Lyubka Krasteva. Lazarov is accused only of money laundering, as the predicate crime (embezzlement of money) has somehow not been investigated by the supervising prosecutors. Rumen Lazarov is represented by the lawyers Kalin Chankov and Velimir Atanasov – considered close to the late Martin Bozhanov – the Notary.
In a document known as “Atanasov’s List” for Bozhanov’s activities, it is alleged that Rumen Lazarov paid 1 million euros to the Notary’s group, but of course there is no evidence. An important detail is that in the first realization against ” The Untouchables” Kalin Chankov was detained with part of the group. This happened on September 25, 2009 in front of the office of Bulbank in Sofia. “White Brezi”. It is with the “mules” who withdraw from the banks the funds transferred to them.
Пробив: ИВСС видя престъпление на Гешев и сезира Гешев. Гешев престъпление не видя
Lawyer Velimir Atanasov became famous in connection with the case of “Josi“. The case was Investigated by BIRD in partnership with DG BOETS. While Atanasov was a district judge, the charges against him were often supported by the former prosecutor Ivan Geshev.
Lawyers Velimir Atanasov and Kalin Chankov are part of the group that is trying to put pressure on Judge Vladislava Tsarigradska, according to her own statements. She is leading a case in which Martin Bozhanov and one of his ex-wives share property. In the “The Untouchables” saga, the supervising prosecutor in the second investigation, in which there have already been convictions, is the current judge of the ACSC – Margarita Nemska
. Съдийката живее на семейни начала с адвокат Emil Piskov, who was exposed by the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) as part of the circle of Martin Bozhanov – the Notary. По това дело тя е посочена лично от Борис Велчев за наблюдаващ прокурор. Така се оказва, че по сагата на “ The Untouchables” have been actively working many from Bozhanov’s circle.
Материалът The Notary and the Untouchables е публикуван за пръв път на BIRD.
