Eva Kaili will have to return to Haren prison, north of Brussels. The Greek MEP, stripped of her post as Vice-President of Parliament on December 13, was heard on Thursday, December 22. And the council chamber decided to keep him in pre-trial detention, at least one more month. Protests from his lawyers did nothing. “She disputes any personal corruption”, assured Thursday André Risopoulos, his lawyer in Brussels. With his colleague, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, they have not yet said whether they wish to appeal the decision.
In the vast investigation carried out since the summer by judge Michel Claise on a case of corruption and money laundering targeting members of the European Parliament, which made it possible to get their hands on 1.5 million euros in cash, they are four protagonists behind bars in Belgium since December 9. Besides Mme Kaili, the former Socialist MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and Francesco Giorgi, his former parliamentary assistant – also a companion of Mme Kaili –, have already seen their pre-trial detention extended, on December 14, until mid-January. These two actors are at the heart of the criminal organization brought to light by Belgian justice.
On the other hand, Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, the leader of the NGO No Peace Without Justice, had obtained the right to leave prison and to be equipped with an electronic bracelet. The next day, the federal prosecutor’s office had appealed, and the Belgian courts will rule on his fate on December 27. Mr. Figa-Talamanca leads an association that hosts the NGO Fight Impunity, a structure co-founded and directed by Mr. Panzeri and which would be at the heart of the corruption system.
Request for extradition of relatives of Mr. Panzeri
Belgium has also requested the extradition from Italy of the wife and daughter of the former MEP. On Monday, the Italian justice gave its agreement for the extradition of Maria Dolores Colleoni, the wife of Mr. Panzeri, but still reserves its answer concerning his daughter, Silvia Panzeri. A decision is expected on January 3. Belgian justice suspects them of knowing the activities of Mr. Panzeri and of having helped him. According to The evening, wiretaps operated by the Belgian secret services show that the two women participated in the collection, particularly in Morocco, of products on behalf of Mr. Panzeri. Both women deny these accusations.
For the moment, the investigation draws a relatively rudimentary system of corruption. Since 2014, with Morocco, then 2018, with Qatar, Pier Antonio Panzeri and Francesco Giorgi collected funds and products to corrupt personalities within the European Parliament and try to protect the image of these countries. Apart from Mme Kaili, no MEP has so far been questioned by Judge Claise.
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