April 3 – The German government has requested the extradition of former Bulgarian footballer Dani Ayman Kiki (pictured) on suspicion of participating in a kidnapping and racketeering scheme.
Kiki, and another former Bulgarian footballer, are alleged to have blackmailed a German businessman to the tune of €1million. His accomplice was detained, but Kiki was able to return to his native Bulgaria. He has now, however, been declared an internationally wanted person and has been detained in Plovdiv.
The alleged crime was committed in November 2024, but according to a report by the Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office, Kiki has not been convicted and has a clean criminal record. If found guilty, the former Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Cherno more player could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Kiki has consented to being extradited to Germany, on the condition that authorities guarantee that he can return to Bulgaria after the trial and serve his sentence at home.
Until the federal republic responds, the court in Plovdiv cannot execute the European arrest warrant. Upon entering the courtroom, the former football player stated that the accusation against him was a “fabrication”.
“He is accused of kidnapping, together with a Bulgarian and two Germans, a German citizen, whom they had information about having significant financial resources. In addition, after threatening him with a gun, they beat him and forced him to transfer financial resources to their accounts,” explained Georgi Geshev from the Plovdiv District Prosecutor’s Office.
“From there, they found out that the man had an account in Luxembourg. They transported him there in order to force him to pay, but the person managed to alert bank security and the police intervened.”
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1745848214labto1745848214ofdlr1745848214owedi1745848214sni@o1745848214fni1745848214