10 arrested in a specialised operation in big hotels in Sofia and Plovdiv

The specialised prosecutor's office carried out an operation in the offices in Marinella Hotel in Sofia and in Maritsa in Plovdiv in relation to an investigation into a criminal group for tax fraud and money laundering. Businessman Vetko Arabadzhiev, who owns the hotels, and two other people in his family are being investigated. 10 people were detained in Sofia and Plovdiv. According to BNT sources, the son of businessman, Valcho Arabadzhiev, is also among the detained.

The Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, has not mentioned the name of the owner of the two hotels, Vetko Arabadzhiev, but his words made it clear that the businessman and his family are among the investigated. The detained included owners and managers of various companies.

These are also persons who informally are not related to companies owned or controlled by the person you mention. Fronts of different companies who should not have anything to do with this person and his official firms. The subject of the investigation is that this person, with a certain circle of people, probably carried out tax crimes, money laundering, were involved in an organised criminal group with companies other than the owner of that hotel, Deputy Chief Prosecutor said.

The Prosecutor’s office explained that in the past two years, real trading companies have falsified their accounting records, by including "missing trader" invoices, which have been accounted under the control of the criminal group and thus avoided payment of taxes. The hotels owner is currently abroad.

It is still unclear whether charges will be pressed against the businessman and his family members.