Justice Ministry sent request to UAE for extradition of gambling tycoon Bozhkov

On February 15, 2020, the Ministry of Justice sent to the Bulgarian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the request of the Chief Prosecutor for the extradition of the gambling businessman Vassil Bozhkov and the documents translated into Arabic, the press office of the ministry announced on February 17.

The letter by the Justice Minister, Danail Kirilov, to the UAE Minister of Justice and the extradition documents will be transmitted through diplomatic channels.

Follow-up actions on the extradition request is entirely within the competency of the UAE authorities.

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On January 29, the Prosecutor’s Office pressed charges against businessman Vassil Bozhkov on seven counts.

The news came amid a law enforcement operation in Sofia targeting officials from the State Commission on Gambling.

Bozhkov, whose Nove Holding owns Lottery Bulgaria and National Lottery, has been circulated as wanted, because he left Bulgaria.

He was reported to be in the United Arab Emirates after leaving Bulgaria at the beginning of February.

Bozhkov is accused of masterminding an organized crime group and engaging in coercion, blackmail, attempted bribery of a public official and incitement to commit malfeasance in office.

Prosecutor’s office said that the businessman had evaded paying more than half a billion BGN in gambling fees.

On February 3, the United Arab Emirates confirmed that Bozhkov was detained.

On February 4, the Prosecutor’s Office said that he was also investigated for murder, attempted murder, rape and coercion.

On February 13, two more charges were pressed against the gambling businessman Vassil Bozhkov - for trading in influence and retaining and unlawfull possesion of item of cultural value. Thus, the the criminal charges against Bozhkov added up to 11.