go through Thomas McIntosh, bbc news
British Broadcasting CorporationA man accused of being involved in one of the biggest thefts in British history has been charged in Serbia.
According to Serbian court documents, Ljubomir Romanov invested funds worth €2.4m (£2m) in luxury cars, property in Belgrade and other items through his “criminal activities” in the UK.
The suspected money laundering offenses are understood to be linked to raids on the homes of three celebrities in December 2019, in which £26 million of valuables was taken.
One of the largest cases occurred at the home of socialite and former model Tamara Ecclestone, where jewelery, cash and other items worth £25 million were stolen.
Other homes that were burgled include one owned by former Chelsea and England footballer Frank Lampard and now deceased former Leicester City boss Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Most stolen jewelry and valuable watches are never recovered.
Eight other defendants were named in Wednesday’s indictment.
November 2022, Three Italians – Yugoslav Jovanovich, Alessandro Malta and Alessandro Donati – Jailed for a total of 28 years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft.
Isleworth Crown Court heard the gang raided Ms Ecclestone’s palatial London home on one of the world’s most expensive streets opposite Kensington Palace. The heiress shares the home with husband Jay Rutland.
A few hours earlier, the couple had traveled to Lapland for their Christmas vacation.
Many rooms in the mansion are free of valuables. In just over an hour, the thieves stole 400 pieces of jewelry and a large amount of cash.
Following the conviction, an international manhunt was launched Metropolitan Police looking for fourth suspect Daniel Vukovic.
A BBC investigation found that Italian, Serbian and British authorities Linking him to other suspected burglaries across Europe.
He is believed to have used at least 19 identities, including Ljubomir Romanov, the name the Serbian Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office charged him with after his arrest in Belgrade in December 2023.
Other defendants named in the indictment include Milka Radosavljevic, Anthony Radosavljevic, Irena Radosavljevic ), Laura Radosavljevic, Mirka Nikolic, Biljana Radosavljevic, Robert Curnow Robert Konovalov and Kristijan Jovanovic.
They are all charged with conspiracy to commit criminal acts, money laundering and coercion to verify false content, the prosecutor’s office said.
A statement said that Mr Romanov and Mr Konovalov, whose crimes were linked to Switzerland, purchased “a large amount of luxury real estate” as well as “a large number of luxury cars or other movable property”.
The prosecutor added that the defendants invested “illicit funds in legitimate cash flow, amounting to at least 2,422,255 euros”.
After their arrest, officials blocked their accounts, access to real estate and seized luxury cars, prosecutors said.
There is no indication at this stage that the UK authorities have resubmitted an extradition request.
The extradition treaty signed between Serbia and Britain in December 1900 provided that each country could refuse to extradite its own citizens.
