© Velko Angelov
– Veselin Mareshki
At today’s hearing in the case of extortion against Veselin Mareshki and Krassimira Koleva, the prosecutor’s office asked the Supreme Court of Cassation as a third instance to confirm the 4-year effective sentence of the leader of “Will” imposed by the Varna Court of Appeal in mid-September
The case was due to be heard by the Supreme Court of Cassation in mid-March, but was postponed at Mareshki’s request due to the April 4th elections.
Today, the leader of “Will” did not appear in court, but
his lawyers demanded that he be acquitted on all charges
As for his accomplice, who was sentenced by the Varna Court of Appeals to three and a half years in prison, the prosecutor’s office demanded that her sentence be reduced.
In September last year The Varna Court of Appeal sentenced Veselin Mareshki to 4 years in prison under a general regime and a fine of BGN 8,000. The punishment is that in 2014 he threatened to destroy the Red Hot restaurant in Varna together with Krassimira Koleva and to terminate the commercial activity of its owner in order to force him to pay him BGN 10,000 per month. The threats were accompanied by
destruction and damage to property
The case against Mareshki and Koleva was filed in the Varna District Court in 2015, but began only in 2018 due to recusals of two court panels. The two are accused that in the period from October 9 to November 16, 2014 they tried to force the tenant of the Red Hot pizzeria in Varna to pay rent of BGN 10,000 to them instead of the owner of the pizzeria Toni Dimitrov, with whom the contract is concluded. Toni Dimitrov is Krassimira Koleva’s ex-husband, and according to the state indictment, she failed to obtain ownership of the pizzeria in court and therefore sought assistance from Mareshki. He owned land in front of the restaurant.
After Asen Milanov refused to pay them,
both filed complaints and initiated inspections
of the legality of the external construction of the pizzeria and even cut off its power supply. Then Asen Milanov turned for help to the municipal councilor from Varna Kostadin Kostadinov (leader of the “Revival” party). When he went to the place, Mareshki started taking pictures of him with his phone. In response, Kostadinov decided to do the same, but at this point
the businessman approached and punched him in the face
in front of the police officers present.
In October last year Mareshki was acquitted by the Varna District Court, which found both him and Krassimira Koleva innocent. The civil claims filed by Asen Milanov in the amount of BGN 40,000 for non-pecuniary and BGN 14,830 for pecuniary damages were also rejected.
On September 14 last year however, the Varna Court of Appeal also sentenced Krassimira Kostova to 3 years and 6 months in prison under a general regime. She must also pay a fine in the amount of BGN 6,000. However, the civil claims for BGN 40,000 in compensation for non-pecuniary damages and nearly BGN 15,000 for damaged property remain without respect.
At a previous hearing, the Court of Appeal clarified that
there was a financial relationship between Mareshki and Kostova
Due to a loan of BGN 65,000, given to Kostova by Mareshki, a contractual mortgage was established in favor of the wife of the leader of “Volya”. According to the prosecution, it was the monetary obligation that became the reason for Mareshki’s actions.
This is not the only case of extortion against him. The leader of “Volya” is also accused by the special prosecutor’s office of extortion through threats of seven owners of pharmacies in Varna, Dobrich, Vidin, Pleven and Sofia.
–
