The European Parliament bribery scandal from Qatar would also involve Morocco, which would be involved in the corruption scheme to gain political and economic weight in Brussels, as reported by the weekly ‘Der Spiegel’.
The investigation documents consulted by the German media indicate that the Italian former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri would have accepted money from both Qatar and Morocco to determine certain political decisions of the European Parliament.
Thus, two members of Panzeri’s family would have helped to transport the «gifts» given to them by the Moroccan ambassador of a country of the East of the European Union.
The Belgian police found 1.5 million euros in cash in some 20 house searches, including that of the now former vice-president of the European Parliament, the Greek Socialist Eva Kaili, and Panzeri.
Along with Panzeri and Kaili, both from the European Social Democrat family, Francesco Giorgi — Kaili’s partner and parliamentary assistant — and a fourth person remain in custody as part of the investigation. All of them will appear on Wednesday before the Court of First Instance in Brussels.
