Banevi investigated for deliberate bankruptcy of two more enterprises

The Specialised Prosecutor's Office is investigating intentional bankruptcy of two other enterprises privatised by Nikolai and Evgenia Banevi. These are "Elma" - Troyan, (siphoned off before Polimeri plant) and the plant in Kostenets which was sold to the defunct Corporate Commercial Bank. In Banevi’s house, the investigators found the original documents of the offshore companies, though which the three factories were brought to bankruptcy.

From the documents and testimonies collected so far, the investigators have come to the conclusion of two schemes through which Banevi family had brought Devnya Polimeri Plant to deliberate bankruptcy and scrapped the installations. Polimeri plant in Devnya was one of the chemical products manufacturer, which was unique to the Balkans. At the time of privatization in 1998, the plant had a significant market share and sold its production on the world market. According to the prosecutor's office, after Banev's acquisition of the enterprise, the profit decreased.

Maria Doicheva, Supervising Prosecutor: Polimeri ‘ s contracting parties were told to pay the money not to the Polimeri’s account for the purchased products, but to the accounts of other companies controlled by Banevi family.

The prosecutors say they have witnesses and evidence of specific offshore accounts to which money from the activities of Polimeri were transferred.

The investigators have found a well-fortified room in Banevi’s estate. It contained the original documents of the offshore companies, which the family owns and to whose accounts the revenues from the commercial activities of the enterprises privatized by Banevi were transferred. Many jewels, gold and even diamonds have been found.

It is precisely the lack of enough evidence related to offshore companies that emerged in Panamagate as well, was one of the obstacles to investigating the bankruptcy of Polimeri, Elma Troyan and the Kostenets factory over the years.

Ivan Geshev, Deputy Chief Prosecutor: Money from siphoned off enterprises went to offshore zones in offshore accounts. We have found the original documents.

At this stage, the investigation is about siphoning off in the period immediately before the bankruptcy of Polimeri. For the time being, Nikolai and Evgenia Banevi are the onely ones that have been accused. They have been charged with money laundering.

Maria Doicheva, supervising prosecutor: And for misappropriation and tax crimes in the period 2010-2011, with the total amount of the appropriated property being over 1.5 million, and the damage to the budget is over 500,000 BGN.

Initially, Banevi acquired only 24% of Polimeri and subsequently, through suspicious contributions, took over the total control over the enterprise, the prosecutors think.

Maria Doicheva, Supervising Prosecutor: These accusations do not include th contributions. We will will continue to work now on this scheme after we have found the stolen documents hidden from the receiver who in 2012 entered in Polimeri and hidden by the Banevi family in a former office of their companies located in Varna.

According to the prosecutor's office, the documents found also prove that part of the profits of Banev's offshore companies are reinvested in jewels and diamonds found in their house.

Ivan Geshev, Deputy Chief Prosecutor: The volume is shocking. These things are the money of the workers from these enterprises, they are transformed into what you see on the pictures published on the MoI website.

In a letter to our editorial, signed by Banevi press office, it is claimed that the family is arrested in a spectacular manner while they were on the way to Bulgaria and poses the question that their children were left alone and without supervision in a foreign country.

Ivan Geshev, Deputy Chief Prosecutor: I am not familiar with the way they were arrested. This is a question for the French authorities. And the second thing - many children from many factories were left alone.

Ivan Geshev reminded that 10,000 people remained without work and income only because of the bankruptcy of the three plants.

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