EU Parliament is shaken by an investigation of corruption associated with Chinese Huawei | News of crimes
Belgian authorities announce the arrests of several people regarding the alleged bribe in parliament.
Police have arrested several people as part of a corruption investigation that targeted the European Parliament and the Chinese Technology Company Huawei, Belgian authorities said.
The suspects, for which they were involved in “active corruption” in the European Parliament to use Huawei, were arrested after searching in 21 premises in Belgium and Portugal, said on Thursday in a statement in the Belgian Federal Office of the Public Prosecutor.
“It is said that corruption is practiced regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day, under the guise of commercial lobbying and taking various forms, such as a fee to take over political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular calls for football matches,” said the Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigators believe that unlawful payments may be “mixed” in financial flows associated with the conference costs to disguise their true purpose, prosecutors said.
“From this point of view, the investigation also aims to detect any evidence of money washing, depending on the case,” the prosecution said.
After the raids, the judge who monitored the case ordered the seal to be placed in the offices of two parliamentary assistants at the EU Parliament in French Strasbourg, prosecutors added.
Prosecutors said they could not reveal further details, including the identities of the suspects, beyond the consideration due to the assumption of innocence and integrity of the investigation.
Huawei and the EU parliamentary spokesmen immediately responded to Al Jazeere’s requests for comment.
The probe is coming less than three years after several EU lawyers have been involved in the alleged bribing scandal involving officials from Qatar and Morocco.
Five current and former MPs – Greece Eva Kaili; Italian dock Antonio Panzeri and Andrea Cozzolino; Both Belgian Marc Tarabella and Marie Arena – they are accused in that case.
In 2013, the Panzers made an agreement on the recognition of guilt with prosecutors, in which he acknowledged his involvement in corruption.
None of the other four are convicted.
Qatar and Moroccan governments denied any injustice in that case.
