Alleged Abductors' Bust Turns Hoax

The five men, arrested Wednesday for being, allegedly, members of the notorious kidnapping crime group, actually turned out to be pranksters, playing a joke with the police. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The five men detained during a police operation as possible suspects in the high profile abduction of Sofia's businessman, Kiro Kirov, have been freed from custody.

The news was announced Friday by Darik radio, citing their own, undisclosed sources from the Interior Ministry.

The men are from Varna and have lengthy rap sheets, but are not members of the kidnapping group. They were arrested Wednesday while traveling in a car along Trakiya highway near a gas station in the vicinity of the town of Ihtiman.

The five, reportedly, decided to poke fun of the approaching police cruiser and put hoods on their heads.

The only violation they are charged with is speeding.

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Mihail Mikov, declined to comment on the reports.

Kiro Kirov was kidnapped on March 27 in Sofia's quarter of Bankya, and was released on April 13 after his son paid a ransom.

Kirov is CEO of Kirov Holding, which includes a number of firms for the production of furniture, a textile firm, a transport firm, and firms importing construction equipment and machines, including of the Bosch brand.

In 2007, Kirov Holding reported a turnover of BGN 204 M.

 

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