Pavel Bozhilov is the owner of “Bul Stroy Group IG”, in which millions have passed, before entering the accounts of the 5 hollow companies
Emil Kyosev was on the council of the directors of “Vodno construction – Blagoevgrad ” until the summer of 2020
The names of businessmen Pavel Bozhilov and Emil Kyosev appeared in the investigation into money laundering from the construction of the Hemus highway.
They were read on Tuesday by Judge Vera Tsvetkova, chairwoman of the appellate court, which is detaining the only accused, football referee Borislav Kolev.
However, the 42-year-old man did not come to the Court House in Sofia to hear in person that he was being sent back to custody, but had sent his brother Ivo Kolev there. He sensationally announced that Borislav wants to speak before Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov and Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev.
Two hours later, Borislav was already talking to the Interior Minister, but it was not clear where the meeting took place. Shortly afterwards, he met with the Attorney General at the Judicial Chamber. Kolev’s interrogation by the supervising prosecutors lasted about 3 and a half hours.
He was videotaped at the urging of all parties – his defense, prosecutors and investigators. According to sources from the Ministry of Interior and the Judicial Chamber, in his testimony where the millions went, Borislav did not name famous names. He mentioned different people, whom he called by their first names – for example, Georgi and Ivan. He also spoke about his contacts in Lom.
“The accused gave long and detailed explanations, setting out his version, including identifying specific persons involved in the possible crime, whose names are not publicly known,” the prosecutor’s office said later. He demanded that the case against him be dismissed and that he not be held criminally liable.
The chronology of events
The trial on Borislav’s remand measure began in the appellate court at 10 o’clock. It became clear from the court’s ruling that witnesses questioned in the investigation mentioned Pavel Bozhilov and Emil Kyosev as the people who had been in contact with Borislav and had something to do with the scheme.
Bozhilov is the owner of many companies. One of them is Bull Stroy Group IG EOOD, through which the millions allocated for Lot 5 of Hemus have passed.
The state-owned Avtomagistrali EAD has transferred BGN 84 million to Vodno Stroitelstvo – Blagoevgrad under an in-house procedure. However, this company did not have the capacity to carry out the construction activities. That is why she hires the related Bul Stroy Group IG and transfers the money to her accounts, it became clear from the court ruling. The money was immediately transferred to the accounts of the 5 companies, which became clear that they were controlled by Borislav Kolev.
The owners and
proxies
of the 5 companies are
surrogates
and after withdrawing the money they handed it over to the football referee Kolev, for which they also testified.
The bank from whose office the money was withdrawn is International Asset Bank, Judge Tsvetkova said. Always with the same employees and with prepared documents for withdrawals. In his statements, Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov has repeatedly said that the bank has reported financial operations to SANS, as required by law, but has not taken action.
Some of the witnesses also mentioned the names of the owner and manager of Bul Stroy Group IG Pavel Bozhilov and Emil Kyosev, who until the summer of 2020 was on the supervisory board of Water Construction – Blagoevgrad.
“I can’t speak now,” said Pavel Bozhilov, asked by 24 Chasa for comment, and hung up when he found out. He did not return the call. We found him on the phone for contact with one of the offices of Agromah (now Groma Hold) a few years ago.
The history of the company “Bul Stroy Group IG” begins in Simitli.
Its first owner and manager is Ivaylo Georgiev, who in 2017 sold it to the late businessman Metodi Bachev. Bachev’s name was mentioned by other witnesses, who said that in the past they gave him money in the same way as Borislav Kolev lately.
Paul
Bozhilov buys
“Bul stroy group
IG ”in
December 2020
His entire company history is connected with the circle of companies around Agromah, an inspection of 24 Chasa showed. He is now the owner and manager of Roads Plovdiv Group, which in the past was controlled by Georgi Gergov. He then sold his travel business to Metodi Bachev and his partners in Blagoevgrad.
Emil Kyosev is also closely connected with this group of construction companies. Until August 2020, he was on the board of directors of Vodno Stroitelstvo – Blagoevgrad – the company with which Avtomagistrali EAD signed an in-house contract for lot 5 of Hemus.
Pavel Bozhilov and Emil Kyosev are from Simitli. It is not clear whether the two were named by Borislav Kolev during his interrogations on Tuesday. “24 Chasa” failed to contact Emil Kyosev until the editorial end of the issue.
“In view of the way the investigation is developing, my brother would like a personal meeting with Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov and, if he deems fit, with Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev. My brother has essential information about the investigation. Doesn’t anyone think that he is the final recipient of BGN 53 million? These are huge sums. You can realize the people, interests and influences that are involved, “Ivo Kolev said at about 11 o’clock on Tuesday.
Following his call, supervising prosecutors responded immediately. They agreed that the chief prosecutor should be present at the interrogation. He verbally informed them that he would come.
Before the supervising prosecutors, Kolev managed to see Boyko Rashkov. The Minister of Interior was even late for the “Policeman of the Year 2021” ceremony because he was in a meeting with Borislav Kolev and his brother. It was not clear where exactly the conversation took place – whether in the home of Kolev, who should not have left it due to the house arrest, but to wait to be taken away, or in the building of the Ministry of Interior.
There were even rumors in the Judicial Chamber that a patrol of the Ministry of Interior had taken Kolev from his home for a conversation with the Interior Minister. These allegations have not been officially confirmed.
“There are some clarifications that they made, but let’s leave that to the investigating authorities. The CDCOC will have a lot to do with the accused, who is already in custody as of today. His interrogation will be in the city prosecutor’s office. I don’t know why the colleagues from the prosecutor’s office decided so. It will probably be more convenient for them that way. I’m not surprised by what I heard from him. It could now be expected that there will be a slightly faster development in the investigation in order to get to the truth faster.
I also heard names. Will
become famous
when
the investigation
advanced ”,
Rashkov said, but declined to give details.
Borislav Kolev was brought in handcuffs to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office at around 2.45 pm. He was accompanied by his lawyer Hristo Botev. Five minutes later, Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev joined the SGP. He remained under interrogation for more than 3 hours, about 50 minutes, after which he continued with another official engagement.
Kolev was arrested on December 9th and charged with money laundering. Interviewed witnesses, most of whom are low-income, identified him as the person to whom the money was handed over after it was withdrawn from the bank. The Sofia City Court sentenced him to “house arrest”. A scandal ensued between the Interior Ministry and the prosecutor’s office.
The state prosecution complained to the CDCOC that they were being pressured not to protest his measure, and the Interior Ministry said that the prosecutor’s office was not interested in the testimony of Kolev, who was ready to speak. This led to the hearing of the appellate court last week, during which Borislav fainted and the court failed to read its ruling.
– .
