The European Parliament introduced on Monday (2 January) that it has begun a process for waiving the immunity of two members following a request by Belgian judiciary to research a European Union/Qatar corruption scandal.
In line with two sources, the MEPs in query have been Marc Tarabella from Belgium and Andrea Cozzolino from Italy.
Roberta Metsola, president of Parliament, said on Twitter that she had launched an pressing process to waive immunity for 2 European Parliament members in response to a request by the Belgian judicial authorities.
“There might be no impunity,” she mentioned, “none.”
Maxim Toller, Tarabella’s lawyer, said that his consumer wished to be stripped of his immunity. Tarabella, who denied wrongdoing earlier, said in a press release that he had “completely no to cover” and would reply to any questions from the investigators.
Cozzolino instructed Italian information companies final month that he wasn’t below investigation. “I’ve not been interrogated.” He mentioned that he had not been searched or sealed his workplace.
Two sources who have been immediately acquainted with the matter revealed to Reuters in December that Francesco Giorgi and his associate have been the principle suspects within the investigation. They ousted European Parliament vice chairman Eva Kaili, whose associate admitted to accepting bribes from Qatar to have an effect on European Parliament selections relating to Qatar.
Sources declare that Giorgi, a EU parliamentary assistant, claimed he believed Tarabella had acquired cash from Qatar. Kaili denied any wrongdoing.
Reuters could not decide if Giorgi supplied proof to help his claims in opposition to Tarabella or Cozzolino.
A Belgian choose determined that Kaili would be in custody for an additional month whereas the investigation continues into the corruption case surrounding World Cup host Qatar. This is among the most critical graft corruption scandals to hit Europe.
Kaili, a Greek nationwide, can be accused in Qatar of accepting bribes. Her lawyer has already said that she is harmless.
Share this text:
EU Reporter publishes articles from quite a lot of outdoors sources which specific a variety of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles will not be essentially these of EU Reporter.
