"A real bomb at the heart of European democracy" is how the Belgian newspaper L'Echo describes the arrests of five people as part of an investigation into Qatari bribery. "Bags of cash found at the home of the vice-president of the European Parliament" is the headline of the article, with a photo of Eva Kaili, and states that five arrests have been made in Brussels and two more in Italy.
According to the publication, Eva Kaili's father was also placed under questioning, who was allegedly "in possession of a suitcase full of cash and was on the move, having been alerted by accomplices, investigators believe."
The same publication states that Eva Kaili, in whose house bags of money were found
,[/B] spent the night in a cell.
The arrests were made as part of an investigation into money laundering and corruption, led by the Belgian Anti-Corruption Bureau, the federal prosecutor's office and investigating magistrate Michel Klez.
The searches at Eva Kaili's house allowed, always according to the same publication, the discovery of other bags full of banknotes. The total amount has not been determined.
The investigation focuses on the actions of Qatar, where the World Cup is being held, which is believed to have influenced financial and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying large sums of money or offering substantial gifts, according to the federal prosecutor's office.
Kaili under questioning after the arrest of her partner
Eva Kaili has been subjected to questioning since yesterday, despite the protection afforded to her by parliamentary immunity.The MEP has been in the presence of the police since yesterday, while her husband, Francesco Giorgio, was arrested yesterday morning.
The offices of both have been sealed off in the European Parliament building, while investigations are continuing apace as Belgian Social Democrat MEPs Mark Tarabella and Marie Arenas are still being investigated in the same case.
Given the developments, the reaction of PASOK - Movement for Change was instantaneous yesterday, which with a laconic statement put Eva Kaili out of the party after 18 years of active political action. In the relevant announcement of Charilaou Trikoupis it is stated that "after the latest developments and the investigation of the Belgian authorities for corruption of European officials, the MEP Eva Kaili is removed from PASOK Change Movement by decision of President Nikos Androulakis". Late Friday night it became known that she was also expelled from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, with the decision having immediate effect.
"Terrified" Eurosocialists
The affair appears to be hitting the Eurosocialist Group in the European Parliament at a political level, with the party coming back several times yesterday commenting on the stormy developments, which were sparked by a report in the Belgian newspaper, Le Soir.
The Le Soir article:
"On Friday, more than 15 investigations were carried out by agents of the Central Anti-Corruption Office in Brussels and four people, considered suspects, were arrested.
Among them, Luca Visentini, newly elected General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, former S&D MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri and Francesco Giorgio, former parliamentary assistant to Mr. Panzeri's parliamentary assistant, current S&D group associate and partner of Eva Kaili.
Eva Kaili, 44, a former Greek TV presenter and MEP since 2014, was also targeted by investigators. Her house was searched late Friday afternoon and she was taken to the prosecutor."
In addition to the four arrests, police seized "around 600,000 euros in cash" as well as "computer equipment and mobile phones", the contents of which will be examined.
It is reported that the arrest of Ms Kaili was preceded by a search of the PASOK MEP's house, which is not true since her immunity is in force. According to sources in Brussels, late last night, Belgian police allegedly found €100,000 in a house owned by Francesco Georgie. Searches were also carried out there and at Panjeri's house, where nearly €500,000 in cash was seized.
Source: Proto Thema
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