The vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili has been arrested and charged with membership of a criminal organization, corruption and money laundering as part of the investigation into alleged bribes from Qatar to people who could influence decision-making in the European Parliament, judicial sources told the Belgian newspaper ‘L’Echo’ on Sunday.
Vice-President Kaili, stripped yesterday of her powers of office but not of her title, is one of the four unidentified persons who, according to the official communiqué sent by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office and reported by the newspaper, have been brought before the courts on suspicion of «membership of a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption». Two other people who were arrested on Friday have been released.
The office also confirms the search of the home of a second MEP last Saturday night, in connection with a scheme whereby «third parties with political and/or strategic positions within the European Parliament received large sums of money or were offered substantial gifts to influence the decisions of the European Parliament».
The Prosecutor’s Office also confirms the search carried out on Saturday night at the home of an MEP, whose name it does not mention either, after ‘Le Soir’ reported, citing sources of the investigation, of a police intervention at the home of the Socialist MEP Marc Tarabella.
