Blond Secretary Proves Fatal for Busted Top Bulgarian Judge

On April 1, a high-ranking magistrate in the Black Sea city of Burgas was charged with money laundering after being arrested a day earlier. File photo

A blond female college law student had played the key role in the exposure of the Chair of the Burgas Administrative Court, Atanas Valkov, according to a publication in the Bulgarian daily Trud (Labor).

Ilka Ch, had worked for over a year as administrative secretary at the Court, Trud writes. The two had "friendly" relations and the attractive young woman often sought her boss as mentor and for support. Months ago, their relations went sour, and Valkov fired her.

According to Trud, Ilka became the top anonymous witness in the probe against her former boss.

On April 1, Valkov and his mother, Ruska, 78, were indicted for money laundering and document fraud, after being detained one day earlier during an attempt to sell a property in the beach town of Nessebar. The magistrate had asked EUR 2.2 B for the lot, which was acquired by Ruska with forged documents. The people, listed as heirs, who ,allegedly, sold her the property, were not even aware they owned it.

Ilka was the person who told the investigators how the documents were forged; how the obsolete typewriter had been purchased for this goal, and even how part of the papers were stained with green tea in order to make them look older.

The young woman has been upset with Valkov firing her and this is why she revealed everything to the police, according to the article. Soon after her dismissal, she also failed her criminal law college exam.

Trud cites unidentified magistrates saying in addition to the anonymous witness, there is plenty of other evidence collected against the Administrative Court Chair and he is to stay in permanent detention.

Investigators, on their part, describe Valkov as powerful and a master of deceit. He had been a member of a Freemason Lodge and had close ties with politicians and businessmen.

The magistrate is yet to offer any explanation regarding the crime he has been charged with.

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