The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating MEP and former vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili and is asking to lift her immunity, a new front for the Greek politician who this week has been implicated in the scandal of the alleged Qatar bribery scheme to gain political and economic weight in the European Union.
The institution, led by the Romanian jurist Laura Kovesi, asks to lift the immunity against Kaili and another Greek MP, the conservative Maria Spyraki, has informed in a statement, in which it points out that it takes the step on the basis of an investigation report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
The report points to the suspicion of fraud to the detriment of the European budget «by the management of the parliamentary allowance and, in particular, with regard to the remuneration of accredited parliamentary assistants,» says the statement, which does not specify whether this investigation is related to allegations of corruption linked to Qatar.
Precisely this Thursday the Financial Prosecutor’s Office of Greece has ordered the opening of an investigation against Eva Kaili for alleged crimes of bribery and money laundering, a new front that adds to the suspicions that already weigh on her in Belgium.
The Greek socialist was arrested last week as an alleged member of a bribery scheme from Qatar and remains in custody – at least until she appears in court in Brussels on December 22. The police have found 1.5 million euros in cash in her home and in that of the former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri.
