Parole decision for Panzeri, key figure in AP-linked corruption probe

According to information from the Belgian press, Panzeri reached an agreement with the prosecutor’s office on December 10, 2022, whom he accused of “integrating as a leader in a criminal organization, money laundering, active and passive corruption” and committing to make statements Regarding the crimes charged against him in January, including those of third parties, he was granted a probation order.

During the hearing held in February, Panzeri explained that between June 2019 and June 2022 he delivered between 120,000 and 140,000 euros to Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella.

Panzeri is expected to be released in the next few days.

The former Vice President of the European Parliament, Greek MP Eva Kaili, remains in detention.

CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION

As part of the investigation of corruption, bribery and money laundering carried out by the Belgian authorities, in December 2022 searches were carried out at many points, 1.5 million euros in cash were seized and 4 people were arrested.

The detainees were announced to be Kaili, whose AP vice president was sacked, former Italian EP MP Pier Antonio Panzeri, Kaili’s boyfriend Francesco Giorgi, who worked as an assistant at the AP, and Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, the director of the non-governmental organization that works for the rule of law. Figa-Talamanca was released later.

In Giorgi’s statement, two MEPs, Andrea Cozzolino and Marc Tarabella, were alleged to have said he received money from Panzeri. The president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, started the process to lift the immunity of Cozzolino and Tarabella.

The people detained in the Belgian investigation are accused of accepting bribes from a Gulf country to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament. Qatar and Morocco, which are mentioned in the news on the subject, deny the accusations.