The Sofia Prosecutor's Office pressed tax evasion charges against the chief executive of tobacco company Bulgartabac Hristo Lachev, Bulgarian news agency (BTA) reported on March 20, quoting sources from the National Investigation Service.
Lachev will face litigation over alleged failure to pay 128 000 leva in taxes.
The prosecutors launched two pre-trial investigations on suspicion of large-scale abuse in office and tax evasion, respectively.
Bulgartabac was allegedly drained through five locally-registered firms, sources from the prosecutor's office told mediapool.bg on condition of anonymity. The companies allegedly signed advertising contracts with Bulgartabac, which were never implemented, thus draining around one million leva from the company. Prosecutors have launched pre-trial investigations against all five company owners.
Another part of the investigation leads to Italy. Bulgartabac has apparently sealed a 250 000 euro contract with an Italian company for the advertising of Bulgartabac brands and related marketing research ahead of the planned export of 6 000 packs of cigarettes to the country. A pre-trial investigation into the contract has also been underway on doubts that the company never carried out promotional activities.
If convicted on tax evasion charges, Lachev might spend up to six years in jail. If he is convicted for large-scale abuse in office, the sentence could range between 10 and 20 years.
Lachev will face litigation over alleged failure to pay 128 000 leva in taxes.
The prosecutors launched two pre-trial investigations on suspicion of large-scale abuse in office and tax evasion, respectively.
Bulgartabac was allegedly drained through five locally-registered firms, sources from the prosecutor's office told mediapool.bg on condition of anonymity. The companies allegedly signed advertising contracts with Bulgartabac, which were never implemented, thus draining around one million leva from the company. Prosecutors have launched pre-trial investigations against all five company owners.
Another part of the investigation leads to Italy. Bulgartabac has apparently sealed a 250 000 euro contract with an Italian company for the advertising of Bulgartabac brands and related marketing research ahead of the planned export of 6 000 packs of cigarettes to the country. A pre-trial investigation into the contract has also been underway on doubts that the company never carried out promotional activities.
If convicted on tax evasion charges, Lachev might spend up to six years in jail. If he is convicted for large-scale abuse in office, the sentence could range between 10 and 20 years.
