According to her lawyer, the deposed Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, has nothing to do with the money seized from her. She “didn’t know about the existence of this money,” her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos said. The 44-year-old is “innocent”. Only her partner, the Italian Francesco Giorgi, who was also arrested on corruption charges, could “provide answers about the existence of this money”.
Since the arrest of Kailis and other suspects last Friday, the European Parliament has been rocked by the huge corruption scandal. On Tuesday, the European Parliament overwhelmingly removed the Greek deputy as vice-president.
Paid by Qatar?
Kaili is suspected of being paid by Qatar to defend its interests. According to Belgian judicial circles, 150,000 euros were found in her apartment in Brussels alone.
Kaili and three other suspects were taken into custody by the Belgian authorities on Sunday. They are charged with “membership in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption”. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to decide whether they will remain in detention until their trial begins.
New route leads to Morocco
According to a report, in addition to Qatar, Morocco is apparently also involved in the corruption scandal. Arrested ex-EU MP Pier Antonio Panzeri is accused of receiving money from Morocco, the “mirror” reported, citing internal documents from the Belgian investigators. According to this report, two relatives of Panzeris allegedly helped transport “gifts” given to them by the Moroccan ambassador to an eastern EU state.
Panzeri reportedly had official ties to Morocco during his time as a member of the European Parliament, when he chaired the delegation for relations with the North African Maghreb countries.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
