Multiple criminal drug trafficking convictions; kidnapping of daughter
Evelin Banev (Bulgarian:Евелин Банев; October 8, 1964), also known by his nickname Brendo (Bulgarian:Брендо) is a real estate developer, published writer, and former wrestler[1] who has been convicted of money laundering and drug trafficking.
Banev became known for his imprisonment and multiple criminal prosecutions for money laundering and drug trafficking in Bulgaria and Italy.[2] In July 2014, the Sofia Court of Appeal acquitted Banev of all criminal charges against him and overturned a 7+1⁄2-year sentence issued previously by the Sofia City Court.[3][4] In September 2015, Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation annulled his 20-year prison term for drug trafficking and returned the case for retrial to the Appellate Court of Milan.[2] Banev's prosecutions, criminal activities, and imprisonment have been highly controversial and politicized. During his imprisonment, Banev's 10-year-old daughter was abducted and freed after almost two months in captivity.[5]
In 2015, Banev self-published a book titled I Gaze Upon the Soul of Bulgaria, which he wrote during his time in prison.[6]
Since 1985, when he enrolled to the National Sports Academy, Brendo has lived in Sofia. During his time at the academy, Banev frequently traveled to international camps, tournaments and wrestling competitions representing his club "Academic - Sofia" and the Bulgarian National Wrestling Team. Banev has been awarded the "Master of Sport" title in Bulgaria and wrestled in the 74 kg category, under the instruction of Dimitar Dobrev.[8]
Entrepreneurship
After the 1989 political changes in Eastern Europe, Banev spent most of his time outside of Bulgaria. During that time, Banev accumulated his fortune during the Dot-com bubble.[9][10] He is also a real estate investor and entrepreneur involved in multiple projects in Bulgaria's riviera and capital.[8]
Criminal prosecutions
In April 2007, the Sofia City Prosecutor indicted Banev for organizing a criminal group and money laundering. Subsequently, Banev was arrested and released on bail.[11]
Banev's case caused a media stir again in 2008, when Switzerland agreed to lift its bank secrecy and to submit bank documentation to the Bulgarian authorities. Later, it was made public, that in its requests for judicial assistance to Switzerland, the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office has sent false information – i.e. stating that Banev is accused of drug trafficking and distribution rather than of money laundering.[12]
As of May 2012, Banev's case was still pending with court hearings being postponed at the request of the prosecution. In relation to the case, various Bulgarian media and EU commission reports commented on the groundless accusations and the abuse of power by the prosecution.[13] At this time, the Bulgarian authorities initiated operation "Cocaine Kings" with an overwhelming media coverage, including a press conference with the Italian authorities. During the operation, some 30 people were arrested, including Banev. Banev was accused of financing drug trafficking between South America and Europe, and Italy claimed responsibility for criminally charging him.[14]
Following operation "Cocaine Kings", Italy requested a temporary extradition of Banev, which he and his legal team fought. However, the Bulgarian Court of Appeals confirmed Banev's 1-year extradition to Italy on July 17, 2012, with the condition that he will be returned to Bulgaria when needed for his money laundering trial. The extradition hearing was not without controversy, as the court denied Banev's right to appoint a new defense attorney and rejected the request of the publicly appointed attorney for more time to familiarize herself with the case. Banev was extradited to Italy on July 26, 2012.[15]
In February 2013, Sofia City Court sentenced Banev to 7+1⁄2 years in prison, while acquitting the other 3 people accused with him. Banev's lawyer, Ina Lulcheva, said that the appeal against the finding of the Sofia City Court would be based on a lack of evidence justifying the conviction. That the group had travelled together made them at most a tour group, not an organised crime group, she said.[16] The defense further stated:
"I will not comment on the length of the sentence. The defense pleaded that there is no crime, as such the punishment is not significant. In this case, it is indicative that it was established that there is money laundered from a person, who has never even been questioned or interrogated. We have not asked that he is questioned, because there is no evidence that he has any connections with the defendants; the prosecution did not want his questioning, because in my opinion, they knew that their accusation would not be confirmed. As such, the court accepted that money is laundered from the activity of a person and his group, without even questioning this person".[17]
After a 4-month trial, in July 2013, the Milan City Court sentenced Banev to 20 years in prison for participating in a criminal organization for international drug trafficking.[18] Banev's defense attorney stated that, "Banev has not even entered Italy" and that there is not one evidence linking him to the charges. Before the court, his attorney pointed out that all of the Milan prosecutor evidence was coming from Bulgaria, not from Italy - in Italy, Banev was never under surveillance, wiretapped, followed, or investigated.[19] The Italian judge who sentenced Banev, stated in an interview with a prominent Bulgarian newspaper that he highly recommends that Banev appeals the sentencing because "until now not a single evidence of Banev's guilt has been deposited; Banev has never been caught in the act of crime, and he was sentenced only by the testimonies (which were presumed truthful) of other defendants".[20]
Following the trial, Banev was returned to Bulgaria, where in July 2014, the Sofia Court of Appeal ruled him "not guilty" of money laundering and released him on probation.[21]
On September 22, 2015, Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation annulled Banev's 20-year prison term for drug trafficking and ordered a retrial to the Appellate Court of Milan. Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation upheld the sentences of all other people convicted under the "Cocaine Kings" affair.[2] The court cited that Banev's unjust conviction was due to lack of any evidence and irregularities in the use of facts.[10] In annulling his 20-year conviction, the court reported that Banev's net worth and political neutrality had led to "antagonisms that motivated incorrect assessment of [his] personality".[10]
Counter-allegations
Banev said that he was invited in writing to a meeting with the Interior Minister, Rumen Petkov, who requested Brendo's assistance – i.e. to falsely testify against “the Margin” brothers. According to Banev, his refusal to cooperate with the Minister is the main reason behind the 2007 charges for money laundering against him.[22][23]
Kidnapping of Banev's daughter
Banev's ten-year-old daughter, Lara, was kidnapped by three masked men at about 7:30 am on March 5, 2013, while leaving her home in Sofia. The men shot her unarmed driver twice in the back.[24] It was the first kidnapping in Bulgaria since 2009.[25] The motives behind the kidnapping were the cause for much speculation. In a televised press conference three days later, Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov stated that, "The kidnapping of Lara is a message to Brendo".[26]
This leads to the other suspicion - the key politicians of Boyko Borisov's cabinet in resignation - Prime Minister Borisov himself, Minister of Interior Tzvetan Tzvetanov, and the Chief of the Chief Directorate "Combating Organized Crime", Stanimir Florov. As stated by Aleksey Petrov, "If Brendo talks about Borisov, Tzvetanov, and Florov, it will be frightening".[27] The media states that the failing GERB party, via its two main figures, Borisov and Tzvetanov, is trying to keep the power and to win the elections at any cost - using a brutal kidnapping as a sign that "without them organized crime is coming back" while sending a signal to Banev to keep quiet.[28] This message was clearly given by Tzvetanov himself during a TV interview in which he avoided the question "Where is Lara?" several times and finally answered, "What happened is unpleasant, but let's not forget who her father is".[29][30][31][32]
Lara Baneva was released, physically unharmed, on April 21, 2013; she was left in front of a police station in Sofia at approximately 10:00 pm. It was reported, but unconfirmed, that the kidnappers had originally demanded a €10 million ransom, but later agreed to free her in exchange of €530,000.[33]
Self-published books
In March 2015, Evelin Banev self-published a novel titled I Gaze Upon the Soul of Bulgaria,[34] which he wrote while in prison. The spiritual novel is about the journey to self-discovery and realization as passed on by the main character, Max, after a 20-year imprisonment, to his daughter Anna. Banev is also the artist of the book cover - an illustration of two mandalas.[35]
