Bulgaria Top Crime Boss Evades Arrest over Delayed Warrant

Nikolay Marinov aka the Little Marguin is sought by the authorities in connection with the Tuesday murder of controversial journalist, Bobi Tsankov. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria alleged top crime figure, Nikolay Marinov aka the Little Marguin was found Tuesday night, but released over the lack of an arrest warrant.

The information was revealed by the Bulgarian “Dnevnik” media, citing their own sources.

It was reported Tuesday evening that the Little Marguin has been arrested along with his older brother, Krasimir Marinov, aka the Big Margin and Stefan Bonev aka Sako. Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, however, disproved the reports Wednesday and informed the Little Marguin is still at large and is sought by the police.

The Big Marguin and Sako were arrested during a special police operation hours after the murder of controversial journalist, Bobi Tsankov, who was gunned down in broad daylight in a busy boulevard in Sofia Tuesday. Tsankov was known for his ties with the mafia and for publications revealing the dark secrets of the underworld.

Official charges have not been yet pressed by the authorities.

“Dnevnik” writes that the Little Margin was found around 5 pm near Sofia's “Moscow” hotel, but was released because of the missing arrest warrant. Shortly after that the police have decided they needed Marinov for the investigation, but he was already in the hiding.

The authorities also have the option to wait for next Wednesday to find out it the Little Marguin would appear along with his brother in court since the two are being tried in a different case. Nikolay Marinov is free on BGN 20 000 bond and if he does not show up, he would violate bail and would face detention.

Meanwhile, Darik radio reports that the Little Marguin is in Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv where a special police action is taking place with police in bulletproof jackets all over the city and heavy police presence at the city's exits.

Darik also informs that Tuesday night the police have searched Nikolay Marinov's home in Sofia's Boyana suburb and confiscated 3 laptops and 2 cell phones. The report cites relatives saying the electronics belong to Marinov's children since neither brother ever used such devices.

The Little Marguin's lawyer, Lyudmil Rangelov, told Darik that the contradicting information about the arrest of his client and then about his search is a police and prosecution manipulation having a particular goal.

“Dnevnik” further cites undisclosed sources saying the Big Marguin, who is behind bars since Tuesday evening, had denied knowing the murdered journalist but pointed out he enjoyed reading his mafia stories in the tabloid “Weekend” because he thought they were very amusing.

Sources also claim the Marguins are connected to the murder because Tsankov gave the authorities information about their involvement in money laundering schemes.

Tsankov, however, never made official statements to the police and never spoke to a magistrate, so his revelations cannot be legally used in a trail for his assassination or in any other case.