Sacks of banknotes at the home of the EU vice president Eva Kaili, 600.000 euros in cash at the home of the former MEP Antonio Panzeriarrests and detentions. Family members are also involved. The investigation into corruption from Qatar opened by the Brussels prosecutor's office for corruption and money laundering at eu parliament expands, also involving the families of the protagonists. And the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola takes action: “In the light of the ongoing judicial investigations by the Belgian authorities, President Metsola has decided to suspend with immediate effect all the powers, duties and delegations of Eva Kaili in her capacity as Vice-President of the European Parliament”, states the spokesman of the President of the Eurochamber.
Corruption from Qatar to the EU Parliament: the accusations also overwhelm family members
As the hours go by, the allegations of the Brussels prosecutor's office, sent to Italy to the Brescia prosecutor's office, become more detailed. Former MEP Antonio Panzeri (Article One, now suspended), among those arrested in the Brussels investigation, is suspected of having intervened "politically with the members" who work in the European Parliament "for the benefit of Qatar and Morocco, against payment". This can be read in one of the acts of the Brussels investigation for "corruption of officials and members of the bodies of the European Community and of foreign states, money laundering and criminal association". In the document it is written that the "presumption of innocence" still applies. Ansa writes that it has read a deed notified to his wife Maria Colleoni, arrested together with her daughter in their home in Calusco D'Adda, in the province of Bergamo. The two women were joined by a European arrest warrant on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, corruption and money laundering. In the summary description of the facts, a vacation for the Panzeri family that cost "100 thousand euros" appears.
"Sacks of banknotes" were found during searches by the judicial police at the home of the vice president of the Eurochamber Eva Kaili, now under arrest. The Belgian newspaper L'Echo writes it. The data would also clarify why Kaili was arrested despite parliamentary immunity. In fact, according to the internal regulation of the European Parliament, immunity lapses in the event of flagrante delicto.
Corruption from Qatar to the EU parliament: the story, the family members
On Friday, the prosecutor's office in Brussels opened an investigation into suspected corruption in the Eurochamber. There is talk of alleged bribery to influence decisions on Qatar. 4 Italians arrested, among them Antonio Panzeri. The Brescia Court of Appeal validated the arrest and granted house arrest to Maria Colleoni and Silvia Panzeri, wife and daughter of former MEP Antonio Panzeri, arrested in the family home in Calusco d'Adda (Bergamo) in execution of a European arrest warrant. The two women are accused of complicity in the Brussels investigation for corruption and money laundering, with the bond of criminal association which led to the arrests of Panzeri himself and other people. The Brescia Court of Appeal validated the arrest and granted house arrest to the two women. The decision is of the judge Anna Dalla Libera. The hearing was adjourned on December 19. Maria Colleoni and Silvia Panzeri, respectively wife and daughter of former MEP Antonio Panzeri, arrested as part of a Brussels investigation for corruption, are considered "fully aware" of the activity of her husband and father and "even of the transport of gifts ”. The two are mentioned "in the transcript of wiretaps" during which the former MEP "commented on the delivery of gifts" of which he was "apparently" the beneficiary.
Corruption from Qatar: the defense
“My clients reported in the courtroom that they were unaware of what was being disputed with them”, explained the lawyer Angelo De Riso, defender with Nicola Colli, of Maria Colleoni and Silvia Panzeri. "We are satisfied and we trust that the request for delivery to the Belgian authorities will not be accepted," said the two lawyers.
