Belgrade Supreme Court Allows Extradition of Corpbank Owner Vassilev
Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - The Supreme Court in Belgrade allowed the extradition of banker Tsvetan Vassilev, BTA learnt from Vassilev's lawyers on Thursday. In order to take this decision the magistrates took into account the fact that Vassilev is tried in his absence in Bulgaria.
The banker's defence lawyers commented that the court decision has already been appealed and the decision of the appellate instance is being awaited. In accordance to the law, the ultimate decision is taken by the Justice Minister.
Vassilev was the majority owner of the failed Corporate Commercial Bank which collapsed in 2014. Bulgaria wants him to be tried for syphoning his own bank but he has so far been avoiding justice and is in Serbia.
On July 28, 2014, the Bulgarian prosecution authorities charged Vassilev with embezzling 206 million leva from Corpbank in his absence and he was put on Interpol's search list.
On September 16, Vassilev turned himself in to Serbian authorities and since then he has had to sign at Belgrade's Central Police Department every day as a precaution that he won't leave the country or go into hiding.
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