The defense of the Greek MEP Eva Kaili, dismissed as vice president of the European Parliament for her indictment in the bribery scheme paid by Qatar, has asked Thursday before the judge her probation with electronic bracelet since, argue their lawyers, is collaborating with the investigation and did not participate in the corrupt network.
The Court of first instance of Brussels has held early Thursday the first hearing of Kaili, who appears a week after other defendants after requesting a postponement, and is expected to decide throughout the day if the Greek socialist should remain in custody or can change their situation.
In declarations to the press in the Palace of Justice of Brussels, one of his lawyers, André Risopoulos, has informed that they have requested for Kaili the «regime of telematic surveillance» and that it remains to wait for the decision of the Belgian Justice.
The lawyer has also stated that his defendant «rejects all charges of corruption» that are imputed to him and that he is «actively participating» in the investigation, although he has refused to give more details of the hearing held behind closed doors, annoyed by the leaks of the case that have been to the press and that the Belgian Prosecutor’s Office is investigating.
According to details of the investigation published during the week by the newspaper ‘Le Soir’, Kaili has already admitted to investigators that he asked his father to hide part of the thousands of euros that were in his home, although he denies having participated in the criminal organization that moved the bribes.
The fact that Kailli’s father agreed to take cash in a suitcase to the Sofitel hotel where he was staying in the European district was what allowed the police to act to arrest the Greek MEP despite her parliamentary immunity because it was considered that she was in flagrante delicto. Kailli has been dismissed as vice-president of the European Parliament but retains her seat.
Kaili is charged with membership of a criminal organization, corruption and money laundering, as are her partner, Italian MEP assistant Francesco Giorgi, and former Socialist MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, both of whom are in custody. A fourth defendant is also on probation.
Giorgi, for whom the Court confirmed the pre-trial detention on the 14th, has confessed before the examining magistrate his participation in an organization that allegedly received bribes from Qatar and Morocco to gain political and economic weight in the EU through its influence in the European Parliament.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
