Controversial Bulgarian journalist Bobi Tsankov, who was murdered on January 5, 2010, in downtown Sofia, had 12 suspended sentences that had come into force.

This was announced Friday by the District Prosecutor of Sofia, Alexander Nalbantov, who explained that Tsankov had 11 sentences for fraud and one for misappropriation of equipment and money while he was director of the Viva Radio in 2001.

The fraud sentences are concerning radio show games that Tsankov organized promising people they could win one-year free advertising including both radio and billboards, and then taking money from the winners for various “side payments” without ever broadcasting any ads.

The most significant of all sentences Tsankov got in 2006 – a three-year suspended sentence with a five-year trial period on fraud charges.

The one trial against Tsankov that was still underway when he got murdered was for the distribution of illegal software. The case is terminated over his death, the Prosecutor announced.

Bulgaria’s Prosecutor’s Office has charged alleged mafia boss Krasimir Marinov, aka “The Big Margiun” with ordering the murder of controversial journalist Bobi Tsankov.

Krasimir Marinov was busted in a special operation of the police who searched premises owned by him and his brother, Nikolay Marinov, aka “The Little Marguin”.

Wednesday night the Prosecutor’s Office formally charged The Big Marguin that in the period November 2009-January 5, 2010, he, together with his brother, planned the murder of Bobi Tsankov by abetting unknown perpetrators into carrying out the crime. According to the prosecutors, the crime has been committed with premeditation, thus creating danger for the lives of many people.

Krasimir Marinov has been detained for 72 hours with a prosecutor’s order. The police are still searching for his brother who is going to face the same charges.

The Margiun Brothers are among the emblematic bosses of the SIC group, one of Bulgaria’s two strongest mafia formations in the 1990s together with VIS.

Another alleged crime boss, Stefan Bonev, aka Sako, who chased Tsankov in a car in November 2009 in Sofia threatening to kill him has been detained and interrogated over the murder of the controversial journalist but them released.

An ATM camera is reported to have caught the face of the person, who murdered Tsankov.

The ATM is located on the “Stamboliiski” boulevard in downtown Sofia where Tsankov was gunned down in broad daylight. The camera took the picture minutes after the shooting.

The individual in question is identified only as Rizhia (The Redhead) and is a known criminal with a long wrap sheet. This has been reported by the daily “Standard” but has not been confirmed by any official sources.

According to Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, it was still unclear who carried out the murder ot Bobi Tsankov.

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