In the investigation into corruption in the European Parliament, the Brussels council chamber decided on Thursday to extend the pre-trial detention of former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri by two months, albeit under the modality of electronic monitoring. This is reported by RTBF and the news is confirmed by Panzeri’s lawyer, Master Laurent Kennes, and the federal prosecutor’s office. That federal public prosecutor’s office will not appeal against the decision of the council chamber, spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt reports.
For several months now, the federal prosecutor’s office has been conducting a major investigation into attempts by the Gulf state of Qatar and Morocco to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament. Both countries are said to have tried to influence decisions and resolutions of the European Parliament through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organization Fight Impunity.
In that case, not only Panzeri, but also his right-hand man Francesco Giorgi, his partner and Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, the Brussels-Italian lobbyist Nicolo Figa-Talamanca, Eva Kaili’s father and trade unionist Luca Visentini were arrested on December 9. The latter two were released after questioning, but Giorgi, Kaili, Panzeri, and Figa-Talamanca were placed under arrest. Figa-Talamanca has meanwhile been released by the investigating judge, while Giorgi has been placed under electronic surveillance by the council chamber.
Money from Morocco, Qatar and Mauritania
Pier Antonio Panzeri has meanwhile assumed the status of regretful optant in the file. In his recent interrogations, Panzeri is said to have admitted that he and Francesco Giorgi received at least 2.6 million euros from the three countries mentioned: Morocco, Qatar and Mauritania. The vast majority of that money was paid out in cash. Part of that amount would be distributed among MEPs and parliamentary assistants between 2018 and 2022.
For example, by the end of the legislature, in 2024, Tarabella should have received a total of 250,000 euros. The MEP was placed under an arrest warrant in the investigation on February 11, and the Brussels council chamber extended his pre-trial detention for another month on March 23, but the man has maintained since the beginning of the investigation that he has never received any money or gifts in exchange for his opinion.
Marc Tarabella and Eva Kaili are now the only two suspects left in prison in the case. The former vice-president of the European Parliament was due to appear in court next week.
European Parliament corruption: Belgian Marc Tarabella transferred to Marche-en-Famenne prison
Qatargate: Cassation appeals Kaili and Tarabella against extension of pre-trial detention rejected
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