Next week, the ex-vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, who is currently in custody, is due to appear before the Belgian judiciary. Meanwhile, according to media reports, her partner is said to have already unpacked. Accordingly, he would have taken on the role of cash manager, but he also commented on other detainees.
According to media reports, one of the suspects in custody in the corruption scandal surrounding the European Parliament confessed. The partner of the ousted Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili has admitted to having been part of an organization used by Qatar and Morocco to meddle in European affairs, the newspapers "Le Soir" and "La Repubblica" reported, citing investigation documents.
The Belgian judiciary is investigating suspected corruption, money laundering and influence from abroad in the vicinity of the European Parliament. Six suspects have been arrested since Friday, two of whom have been released. Eva Kaili's detention date has been postponed to next week.
According to the report, Kaili's partner, Francesco Giorgi, himself an assistant in the office of an Italian MEP, accused former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri of being the head of the alleged organization. Both are still in custody. According to the report, his own role was to manage cash. He went on to say that two MPs had received money from Panzeri. Panzeri's lawyer replied to "Le Soir" request that he did not have this information.
"Le Soir" and "La Repubblica" also reported that the investigations are aimed at Morocco as well as the Gulf state of Qatar. In the European Arrest Warrant, which was issued for Panzeri's wife and daughter last week, Morocco is also suspected of "having politically intervened with members of the European Parliament on behalf of Qatar and Morocco against payment". The Moroccan secret service is also involved.
Meanwhile, the financial prosecutor's office in Athens has launched a preliminary investigation into Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who is being held in Belgium. Finance prosecutor Nikos Bardakis ordered the investigation "on suspicion of accepting bribes and money laundering," according to legal sources on Thursday. Greek Justice Minister Kostas Tsiaras said on Monday that it goes without saying that "Greece will help the Belgian authorities" if necessary. Meanwhile, the Greek anti-money laundering agency announced that it would freeze all of the socialist politician's assets. On December 22, the former Vice President of the European Parliament is to be brought before the Belgian judiciary.
Kaili was arrested in Brussels last Friday, as was her partner. According to Belgian judicial circles, 150,000 euros were found in their shared apartment, and another 750,000 euros in Kaili's father. Because of the allegations of corruption, the EU Parliament dismissed the Greek politician from the office of Vice President on Tuesday.
