Close to one hundred Bulgarian millionaires were under investigation on suspicion of illegally acquiring property, Serbian B92 reported on December 1.

The Commission for Establishing of Property Acquired through Criminal Activity (CESPAC) would investigate 98 cases worth in total 88.5 million leva.

Although Bulgarian legislation for the seizure of illegally acquired property had been created in co-operation with Ireland, it was not as clear-cut and did not allow forfeiture of property in favour of the State, CESPAC chairperson Stoyan Kushlev was quoted by B92 as saying.

Major difference between the Bulgarian and the Irish legislation was that in Bulgaria investigations were only launched for cases involving sums of over 60 000 leva (31 000 euro), while in Ireland the threshold was 13 000 euro.

As if Bulgarians were so much richer than the Irish, Kushlev commented.

According to B92, Kuslev intended to investigate, what was referred to as "Gypsy barons", who were said to be living on welfare in private palaces.

B92 said Kuslev made his statements at a round table in Sofia.