Boki 13 turns 40: from early showbiz success to Reket and Idrizovo

Bojan Jovanovski — known professionally as Boki 13 — turns 40 on August 19, a milestone that arrives after a career mixing early show-business success, regional fame from reality TV and a high-profile criminal case that led to imprisonment.

Born and raised in Skopje, he showed an early inclination for entertainment: at 16 he organized his own event called "13" featuring major Balkan stars, and by 19 he had moved into presenting. His profile rose sharply in 2010 when he appeared on the reality show Veliki Brat VIP, becoming a regional sensation.

From records and stage to the Reket scandal

Alongside television, Jovanovski also experimented with music: he released the album Ne plaši se od ogledaloto, which included the track "Kaligula" that, according to him, was a gift from his close friend Jelena Karleuša. His public image changed dramatically when he became the central suspect in the Reket case; he was later sentenced to nine years in prison.

Jovanovski has described his time at Idrizovo Prison as brutal. He says he suffered violent attacks by other inmates, which left him with serious injuries including a head contusion and a torn lip. Poor food and harsh conditions reportedly worsened his health and led to multiple emergency operations.

"I arrived at the hospital in a condition close to sepsis. The doctors had 20 minutes to save my life. I owe my life to the doctor on duty," he said after his sentence was suspended on health grounds.

In recent interviews and on his podcast Jovanovski has also opened up about painful family dynamics from his childhood. He recalled tensions with his father and how those years shaped him. He warned that a forthcoming film project about his life could expose intimate details and predicted that, if those revelations come out, "there will be a river of divorces in the entertainment scene."

Now on the threshold of his fifth decade, Boki 13 has returned to public life with a podcast, appearances and new projects. He says the ordeals have left him with a clear priority: health and freedom above all else.

Photo: press material from the event