The four suspects arrested on Friday in the Brussels region in connection with corruption allegations in the European Parliament were placed in custody by the judge. Among them is the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, the Greek Social Democrat Eva Kaili.
In addition, at least two arrests were made in Italy this weekend in connection with the corruption scandal. It concerns the wife and daughter of former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri. He plays an important role in the anti-corruption investigation and was arrested on Friday.
Panzeri’s wife, Maria Colleoni, and daughter Silvia would have played an active role in the illegal affairs of her husband and father, who would have received a lot of money and gifts. They themselves would also have participated ‘in the transport of gifts’ for Panzeri. A villa in Cervinia, in the Italian Alps near the Swiss border, would also be built with bribes.
In addition, a family celebration of around 100,000 euros would have been paid. The Panzeri spouses would also have attempted to withhold the transactions using a credit card belonging to a non-existent figure called De Reus. The two denied any wrongdoing and were placed under house arrest by the investigating judge of Brescia.
Money and gifts
According to the researchers, a Gulf state has donated a lot of money and gifts to people in or around the European Parliament to gain influence. The most notable suspect is the recently deposed European Parliament Vice-President, Eva Kaila. She was arrested in Brussels. According to Belgian and Italian media, the Gulf state refers to Qatar, where the soccer World Cup is now being played. But in the documents that led to the arrest of the Panzeri in Italy, Morocco is also mentioned among the beneficiaries.
Source: BNR
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