Qatargate: Greek MEP Eva Kaili authorized to remove her electronic bracelet

2023-05-25 16:15:54

Eva Kaili is now free, “under judicial control”. The Belgian anti-corruption judge in charge of the so-called Qatargate lifted this Thursday the surveillance under electronic bracelet which was imposed on Greek MEP in Brussels, announced a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, Éric Van Duyse.

Arrested in December in the Belgian capital during a wave of searches, Eva Kaili had been released from prison in mid-April, but assigned to residence under electronic bracelet. This measure “is no longer necessary for the rest of the investigation”, explained this spokesperson.

Two other suspects in this case of alleged corruption within the European Parliament have already benefited this month from the lifting of this measure of surveillance at home. This is the Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, who like Eva Kaili proclaims her innocence, and Francesco Giorgi, companion of the Greek elected official and former parliamentary assistant to Pier Antonio Panzeri. The latter, a former Italian MEP (2004-2019), who is the central figure in the case, remains placed under an electronic bracelet, one of the methods of preventive detention in Belgium.

The modalities of the judicial control not specified

In this case of alleged corruption for the benefit of Qatar and Morocco, at least six suspects have been charged, suspected in particular of participation in a criminal organization and money laundering.

The scandal broke in December when Belgian investigators got their hands during searches in Brussels – in particular at the homes of Eva Kaili and Antonio Panzeri – about 1.5 million euros in small denominations distributed in suitcases or bags.

The investigating judge in charge of the investigation, Michel Claise, suspects cash payments made in exchange for political decisions or positions favorable to Qatar and Morocco in the European Parliament, which Doha and Rabat have firmly denied.

Eva Kaili, 44, was one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament before the scandal broke. Like Tarabella, she was a member of the Socialists and Democrats group, from which she was expelled. The terms of his judicial review have not been specified.