After four months, the investigation continues: so far, cash of 1.5 million euros has been found. All those involved have been released from prison: Kaili, Panzeri, Giorgi, Tarabella and Cozzolino under electronic surveillance.
A scandal linked to alleged bribes and high-level corruption has been shaking the European Parliament since December 2022: probably the largest in the history of the EU institutions. ”European democracy is under attack,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. After four months, all those involved were released.
The status of the investigation An investigation is currently open for corruption, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. It involves six people in Belgium and two in Italy, some of whom allegedly obtained ”large sums of money” and ”valuable gifts” to defend the interests of a Persian Gulf country, in all likelihood Qatar, in the European Parliament. From the admissions of the suspects, it emerges that Morocco and Mauritania were also involved. Overall, during the searches carried out between 9 and 12 December, Belgian police found and seized one and a half million euros in cash.
The figures at the center of the investigation are all in some way linked to the community assembly. The most prominent name is that of Eva Kaili, a Greek Socialist MEP and (now former) vice-president of the European Parliament. 150 thousand euros were found in one of his apartments. After more than four months of detention, she was released on April 12 and will be placed under surveillance with an electronic bracelet. His lawyers, who proclaim that he is not involved in the charges of corruption, have repeatedly asked for his release, given that there would be no danger of flight or contamination of evidence.
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