In the corruption scandal surrounding the European Parliament, the Belgian police have so far seized almost 1.5 million euros from the suspects during house searches in the Brussels Region. The Belgian federal police announced this on Twitter on Wednesday (tweet below), where they posted several photos showing, among other things, a trolley case and several suitcases full of banknotes and several stacks of banknotes.
In the scandal surrounding the alleged influence of the Gulf Emirate of Qatar on political decisions in the European Parliament, the Belgian judiciary has so far issued arrest warrants against four people. Among them are the Greek Eva Kaili, who has since been ousted by the European Parliament as Vice-President, her boyfriend, who works as an assistant to a Member of the European Parliament, and the former Social Democrat MEP Antonio Panzeri.
Lawyer claims innocence: “Nothing known”
According to her lawyer, Kaili has nothing to do with the 150,000 euros in cash seized from her. She “didn’t know about the existence of this money,” her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos told AFP news agency on Tuesday. 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”.
Kaili ousted as EU vice president
Since the arrest of Kailis and other suspects on 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. 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 will take place on Wednesday to decide whether she should remain in custody until her trial begins.
Morocco also involved in corruption scandal
According to a report, in addition to Qatar, Morocco is apparently also involved in the corruption scandal. Arrested ex-EU MP Panzeri is accused of taking 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.
