Tags : Eva Kaili, Maddalena Kaili, Moroccogate, Qatargate, Morocco, DGED, European Parliament, Antonio Panzeri, Francesco Giorgi, Moroccocleaks, Mohamed Belahrach, Fight Impunity, No Peace Without Justice, Corruption,
Two European newspapers reveal that the former vice-president of the European Parliament allegedly ordered her father to hide the money.
The “Qatargate” revelations continue. The Gulf country is suspected of having offered financial compensation in exchange for the support of certain European officials. Indicted for belonging to a criminal organization, corruption and organized money laundering, Eva Kaili, former vice-president of the European Parliament, had the mission of developing relations between the EU and the Arabian peninsula. She was heard by Belgian investigators and allegedly confessed to having asked her father to hide money, according to a document consulted by Le Soir and La Repubblica.
The father, arrested on the day of the extensive arrest by the Belgian services, took refuge at the Sofitel hotel in Brussels with a suitcase full of cash. “The accused admits having instructed her father to hide the money,” wrote the investigating judge Claise in the arrest warrant issued against the Greek MEP on December 9. “She declares having known in the past of the activity of her husband (Francesco Giorgi, editor’s note) with Pier Antonio Panzeri (a former MEP arrested the same day, editor’s note) and that suitcases of tickets passed through his apartment”.
Eva Kaili “tried to warn Pier Antonio Panzeri but also two MEPs quoted in this investigation”, assures the mandate. The latter, arrested with 600,000 euros in cash in his apartment, would have partially acknowledged his involvement in this affair but would have denounced a Belgian MEP: Marc Tarabella. “He denounces MEP Marc Tarabella as the recipient of gifts from Qatar”. The latter denies any influence or gifts received from Qatar.
Qatargate: Eva Kaili’s Christmas in prison and new requests for waiver of immunity
The investigations in Belgium and Italy are progressing in depth and new elements resurface every day as Eva Kaili prepares to spend Christmas in prison. Belgian justice is preparing new requests for the waiver of immunity for other MEPs in the Qatar Gate affair, writes the Italian newspaper La Republica. He specifically mentions that Italian MEP Andrea Coccolino and two others are the targets of the investigations.
At the same time, six bank accounts of Pantzeri, his daughter Giorgi and trade unionist Vsentini were frozen by the Italian court.
The investigations in Belgium and Italy are progressing in depth and new elements resurface every day as Eva Kaili prepares to spend Christmas in prison.
For the former vice-president of the European Parliament, Christmas this year reminds nothing of the past.
She will spend the holidays alone in a cell in the women’s ward of Haren prison in Belgium, without family or friends.
“Ms. Kaili is alone in prison… Unfortunately, her child, her baby, who is 22 months old, is also alone. It’s Christmas….. there is no one… Eva Kaili feels that she is living through a disaster”, says her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos.
Kaili’s testimony gives Belgian investigators new evidence, as at least five other MEPs are in the net of the investigations.
One of the people named in the depositions of those arrested last week publicly called for… cleansing.
In the meantime, according to Italian media, the judicial authorities in Bergamo are heading for the treasure of the “key man” of the scandal, Antonio Panzeri.
The warrant is issued by the Italian public prosecutor’s office at the request of Belgian justice.
However, his political mentor, Pier Luigi Bersani, distances himself from the alleged mastermind of the ring.
While waiting for Eva Kaili’s request for release to be examined on January 22, the Belgian and Italian judicial authorities are trying to “shed light” on other aspects of the scandal.
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