Bulgaria's anti-corruption commission has restrained a property in France owned by gambling businessman Vassil Bozhkov

Bulgaria's Commission for Anti-Corruption and Illegal Assets Forfeiture (CACIAF) has restrained an immovable property in France owned by gambling businessman Vassil Bozhkov, following a judgment rendered by Sofia City Court, CACIAF Deputy Chairperson Anton Slavchev told BTA on March 22.

This is the first restraint on a Bulgarian-owned property located abroad.

The property is a residential building and it is subject to a civil action for illegal asset forfeiture. Its market value is 2,611,228.63 BGN, Slavchev stated.

In his words, a parallel procedure took place in Bulgaria and France. The special procedure in France was directed by a notary in accordance with the French Civil Code and confirmed that the measure was legally conforming and correct.

Several identical procedures are underway in Greece, Spain and Germany. "At this stage, further details will not be disclosed because the persons targeted by these actions may take precautions," Slavchev noted.

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Once considered to be the wealthiest Bulgarian person, Vassil Bozhkov lost his gambling business in early 2020 when Parliament passed the amendments to the Gambling Act thus banning lottery games organised by private operators.

On January 29, 2020, the Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against Bozhkov on seven counts and then in February charged him with more, thus the criminal charges against him adding up to 18. He has been charged with evasion of more than 700 million BGN in gambling licensing fees, money laundering, extortion, bribery, murder, abetting in murder, attempted rape, leading an organized crime group, trading in influence, and unlawful possession of cultural assets. The businessman left the country prior to completion of the inquiries and is now in the United Arab Emirates, from where Bulgaria is seeking his extradition.