'Inexplicable' Delay in Roma Boss Inspection Baffles Bulgarian Tax Body

Business » FINANCE | September 26, 2011, Monday // 17:30
Bulgaria: 'Inexplicable' Delay in Roma Boss Inspection Baffles Bulgarian Tax Body Notorious Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, was supposed to be inspected for illegal wealth in 2010, according to the tax authority. Photo from burgasnews.com

Notorious Bulgarian Roma boss Kiril Rashkov, aka Tsar Kiro, was supposed to be inspected by the tax authorities last year but the inspection somehow got delayed, announced Krasimir Stefanov, Director of the National Revenue Agency.

Rashkov, who is known as "tsar" because of his wealth, attracted public attention over the weekend after some of his associates ran over and killed an ethnic Bulgarian boy, 19-year-old Angel Petrov, in the village of Katunitsa. The incident spurred mass protests against his family and nearly led to large-scale ethnic clashes in the nearby city of Plovdiv on Sunday.

"Kiril Rashkov and his wife were included in the list of the National Revenue Agency last year but no inspections have been undertaken for reasons that are inexplicable," tax agency head Stefanov told the Bulgarian National Radio Monday.

He did refute, however, the allegations that Rashkov enjoyed a political cover-up in the central government.

Stefanov further announced that the tax authority has started to investigate all tax inspectors in the District of Plovdiv in order to figure out why Tsar Kiro's assets and income have not been checked yet.

"I hope that this inaction is not the result of corruption. However, if corruption or negligence are established, the respective persons will be fired," said the top-ranking civil servant.

He also explained the tax authorities have started to inspect the assets of Kiril Rashkov, his wife, as well as 13 other persons from his family, and six firms. In his words, however, the tax inspectors are working with the available documents, while the Rashkov clan formally does not own anything according to the tax register.

In addition, Stefanov announced the tax authorities will impose a distraint on Rashkov's assets for the duration of the check.

"Even the slightest evidence of tax evasion will be turned over to the Prosecutor's Office. The Commission for seizing illegally acquired assets should also be notified," the top tax official stated.

Locals in the village of Katunitsa have protested against the status of Tsar Kiro, claiming he is extremely rich without have any legal sources of income, and without paying any taxes.

Rashkov is reported to be dealing with illegal production of fake alcohol as well as with prostitution and pickpocket rings operating across Europe. None of these reports have been confirmed by the police.

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Tags: Tsar Kiro, Kiril Rashkov, National Revenue Agency, tax inspectors, tax inspector, Roma, Katunitsa, Plovdiv, ethnic clashes, ethnic violence, Angel Petrov, Krasimir Stefanov

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