site.btaHigh-Profile Money Laundering Convict Asks to Serve in Bulgaria Sentences from Italy, Romania

Internationally wanted Evelin "Brendo" Banev asked the Bulgarian Court to let him serve in Bulgaria the sentences handed down against him in Italy and Romania, the Sofia City Court reported here on Tuesday.

Banev turned himself to the police, accompanied by a lawyer, on Monday, June 24. He was handed over to the Justice Ministry's Execution of Punishments General Directorate, where procedures were carried out to identify and bring him to prison, caretaker Justice Minister Maria Pavlova said.

Banev has been absconding from the Bulgarian authorities since his six-year sentence for money laundering was pronounced by Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation in 2018. He was not found on the territory of the country when the sentence was handed down and he was declared wanted. The Sofia City Prosecution Office subsequently issued a European Arrest Warrant for Banev.

He was wanted under Interpol Red Notices for participating in an organized crime group for money laundering in Bulgaria and for setting up an organized criminal group and drug trafficking in Romania.

The Bulgarian has been sentenced for drug trafficking to 20 years in prison in Italy and 10.5 years in Romania.