According to information from the AFP news agency, Greek Member of Parliament and Vice-President of the EU Parliament Eva Kaili (44) has been arrested in connection with investigations into alleged corruption. Kaili was arrested in Brussels on Friday evening and is now being questioned by the police, sources familiar with the case report. Previously, there had already been four arrests in the Belgian capital in the course of the investigation.
According to media reports, Qatar is involved in the corruption scandal. Bribes were paid in connection with the World Cup football. This information has not been officially confirmed by the responsible authorities.
In Athens, the Greek Socialist Party (Pasok), of which the arrested Kaili is a member, announced on Friday evening that the politician had been “excluded from the party”.
Qatar World Cup bribery
Among the four previously arrested is a parliamentary assistant from the Social Democratic Group in the European Parliament (S&D), who is also the partner of Deputy MP Kaili. Also arrested were former Italian Socialist MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, the head of an NGO and a trade union leader, both also Italian nationals.
According to the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, a total of 16 house searches took place in Brussels, one of the places where the European Parliament works. The police seized data carriers and mobile phones, as well as cash amounting to approximately 600,000 euros.
It is therefore determined for “gang corruption and money laundering”. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of organized crime and terrorism in Belgium.
According to the authority, the investigations, led by an investigative judge in Brussels, concern alleged attempts by a Gulf state to “influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying significant sums of money or making significant gifts”. (AFP/SDA)