Belgian Socialist MEP Marc Tarabella defended himself Sunday night by denying allegations of alleged Qatari bribes to individuals who could influence European Parliament decision-making.
Tarabella has asserted that he has «never» received a gift from Qatar, a situation in which, he claims, he would have denounced the bribers, reports the newspaper ‘Le Soir’.
«I have never received a gift from Qatar, I would have denounced them,» he explained after learning that during the night of Saturday the Belgian police had searched his home as part of the investigation into alleged bribes from Qatar.
Following the search, investigators have seized computer equipment and his cell phone, while he has not been deprived of his liberty.
Moreover, he has assured that he has «nothing to hide» and that he wants to collaborate in the investigation. However, the Party of European Socialists has decided to convene a Supervisory Committee to explain how and why his home was searched.
The 59-year-old MEP, a member of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the Parliament, serves as vice-chairman of the delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament and deputy in the delegation for relations with China, according to his profile on the institutional website of the European Parliament.
The European Parliament had already announced Saturday the suspension of the Greek Socialist Eva Kaili of all its powers and powers as vice-president of the European Parliament, but not the office itself, in connection with this plot. Belgian police on Friday searched the home of Kaili, who was also questioned.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office also reported the arrest of four people and up to 16 searches carried out in several districts of Brussels as part of an investigation into an «alleged criminal organization of corruption and money laundering» that for months sought on behalf of a Gulf country to influence the «economic and political» decisions of the European Parliament.
