At least 150,000 euros are said to have been found in the house of EU leader Kaili, according to various media. Kaili didn't know anything about these cash holdings, claims her lawyer and blames her partner.
According to her lawyer, the deposed Vice President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, has nothing to do with the cash seized from her. She "didn't know anything about the existence of this money," her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos told the AFP news agency. The 44-year-old is "innocent". Only her partner, the Italian Francesco Giorgi, who was also arrested on charges of corruption, could give "answers about the existence of this money".
Dimitrakopoulos had previously denied all allegations against his client on Greek television. He rejected media reports that 160,000 euros had been found under Kaili's little daughter's cradle. There is no cradle at all. The real estate company that Kaili is said to have set up with her partner in Athens last month has not yet started operations. According to the lawyer, he did not know whether or how much money was found.
Since the arrest of Kailis and other suspects on Friday, the European Parliament has been rocked by the massive corruption scandal. On Tuesday, the EU Parliament dismissed the Greek MEP as Vice President with an overwhelming majority. Kaili is suspected of having been 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 Belgian authorities on Sunday. They are accused of "membership in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption". A court hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday to decide whether they will remain in detention until their trial begins.
