Update: More Than Just a Driver
Recent revelations show that Ben Gettemans (LinkedIn) was not merely the personal chauffeur of Gal Barak, but also acted as a money courier for E&G Bulgaria. According to insider sources, Gettemans transported illicit funds—often in suitcases—by vehicle between the group’s offices in Belgrade and Sofia. His role in the criminal organization extended far beyond simply driving.
From Chauffeur to Witness: The Inside Story
Between 2017 and 2019, Ben Gettemans served as the personal driver for Gal Barak, the infamous Israeli operator behind the E&G Bulgaria cybercrime enterprise. Barak, who earned the nickname “Wolf of Sofia,” was apprehended in January 2019. A year later, in September 2020, he was sentenced in Austria to four years in prison for investment fraud and money laundering.
Barak’s arrest was the result of a coordinated international law enforcement effort and the execution of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). He attempted to escape from Bulgaria into Serbia, but was intercepted by border authorities. His former driver now shares the dramatic details of that day.
Key Case Overview
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Case File Name |
E&G Bulgaria |
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Cybercrime Activities |
– Online trading fraud – Boiler room operations – Investment scams – Money laundering |
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Key Figures |
– Gery Shalon – convicted in U.S. – Gal Barak (“Wolf of Sofia”) – 4-year prison term (Austria) – Marina Barak – acquitted – Vladislav Smirnov, Itzik Gellet, Amit Hulin, Chen Ganon, Maor Sioni – suspects – Jacki Fitelzon – sentenced to 82 months – Kfir Levy – in pre-trial detention |
|
Related Cases |
– Veltyco & Uwe Lenhoff – charged in Germany – Tradologic – prosecuted in Austria |
The Day of the Arrest: What Really Happened
On January 28, 2019, Gal Barak was scheduled to travel from Sofia to Belgrade. According to Gettemans, the journey was meant to be another routine five-hour trip. Unbeknownst to Barak, his associate Uwe Lenhoff had already been arrested, and an EU-wide arrest warrant had been issued for him.
At that time, Barak had reportedly paid large bribes to Bulgarian officials and believed himself immune from international prosecution—a grave miscalculation.
The Convoy Plan
Barak, his wife Marina Barak (formerly Marina Andreeva), and their armed bodyguards set out in two vehicles early that morning. Marina and the bodyguards were in the second car, while Barak and Ben Gettemans traveled in the lead.
Shortly after leaving Sofia—about 20 kilometers out—Barak received a distressing phone call: Bulgarian police were raiding the offices of E&G Bulgaria. Barak immediately contacted his lawyer, Todor Batkov, to get clarification.
He asked Gettemans to pull over so he could evaluate his options. After a few moments, Batkov advised Barak not to return to Sofia. Barak then made the decision to continue towards Belgrade, hoping to evade arrest by entering non-EU territory, where the EU warrant would not be enforceable.
Marina returned to Sofia with the second vehicle, while Barak and Gettemans pressed on.
The Arrest at the Border
Their plan failed. Upon reaching the Bulgarian-Serbian border, Gal Barak was arrested by law enforcement officers. Ben Gettemans was permitted to return to Sofia alone, unharmed.
The Fallout: Sentences and Ongoing Charges
Following his arrest and extradition, Gal Barak was convicted in Vienna in September 2020, receiving a four-year prison sentence and being ordered to repay nearly €4 million in restitution.
Further developments include:
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Jacki Fitelzon, one of Barak’s close associates, was sentenced in January 2021 to 82 months in prison.
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Kfir Levy, another lieutenant, was arrested in the Philippines in October 2021 and awaits trial.
Additional indictments and legal proceedings are expected to continue across multiple EU jurisdictions. Both Gal Barak and Marina Barak are anticipated to face further criminal charges in Germany.
The E&G Bulgaria case is far from over. More arrests and convictions appear inevitable as law enforcement agencies intensify their investigation into one of Europe’s most notorious cybercrime rings.