Corruption scandal: MEP Marc Tarabella arrested by Belgian police

The investigation into the corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament has resulted in a brand new arrest: Marc Tarabella, the Belgian MEP previously related to the socialist group, was taken into police custody on Friday morning.

A financial institution secure positioned in Liège that belongs to the lawmaker and a number of other workplaces contained in the city corridor of Anthisnes had been additionally searched.

Tarabella is now ready for a listening to earlier than a choose, who might determine to launch him or cost him as a part of the widening probe, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Workplace confirmed to Euronews, with out specifying the doable prices he would possibly face.

The MEP should be heard in a most interval of 48 hours.

Since his identify grew to become embroiled within the scandal, Tarabella has constantly defended his innocence.

The police operation to take Tarabella into custody happened on Friday morning, between 6:00 and eight:00 AM CET, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.

European legislators take pleasure in immunity from detention and authorized proceedings, however Tarabella misplaced this privilege final week after his colleagues voted to strip him of this particular safety.

Tarabella himself voted for the lifting of his personal immunity.

Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was additionally disadvantaged of safety throughout that very same vote.

Because the scandal exploded in mid-December, 4 individuals have been formally charged: Greek MEP Eva Kaili, her home associate Francesco Giorgi, former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and NGO director Niccolò Figà-Talamanca.

The 4 had been charged with participation in a prison organisation, corruption and cash laundering.

Kaili, Giorgi and Panzeri stay in jail, whereas Figà-Talamanca was launched earlier this month with out situations.

The investigation is wanting into illicit lobbying allegedly carried out by Qatar and Morocco in a bid to affect EU decision-making.

Each Qatar and Morocco vigorously deny the claims.

The alleged lobbying entailed “massive sums” of cash and “substantial” items, prosecutors mentioned. Over €1.5 million in money has been seized throughout dozens of police raids.

Panzeri, the presumed middleman between the Arab nations and the hemicycle, has signed a cope with authorities during which he admitted his prison participation in bribery and dedicated to sharing “revealing” particulars in regards to the cash-for-favour scheme.

In response to Belgian media, Panzeri has confessed to handing over €120,000 in money to Tarabella over a number of instalments in relation to the latter’s work on Qatar-related points.

Tarabella’s lawyer insists his shopper has by no means accepted any cash or present from Qatar.

Who’s Marc Tarabella?

Marc Tarabella is a Belgian MEP who sat with the socialist group since his election in 2004 till the eruption of the corruption scandal in December when his membership was suspended.

Tarabella was a part of a number of parliamentary committees, such because the delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, generally known as DARP, which incorporates Qatar.

Again in November, Tarabella defended Qatar’s labour rights within the context of the FIFA World Cup, utilizing related arguments to these voiced by Eva Kaili in the identical plenary session.

“A lot progress stays to be made, however (Qatar) continues to be the nation that has launched into the trail of reform,” Tarabella mentioned, talking in French.

“What’s necessary is that, when the lights of the World Cup have gone out, the optimistic evolution continues not solely in Qatar, however it may well unfold to all of the nations of the Arabian Peninsula.”

In early December, Tarabella voted in favour of a visa waiver for Qatari and Kuwaiti residents, a legislative file that has since then been placed on maintain.

In January, his lawyer admitted Tarabella had did not declare a working journey he made to Qatar in 2020.

The 59-year-old is now a non-attached legislator, that means he’s not affiliated with any political group, and nonetheless earns a post-tax wage of €7,146 per 30 days. 

The removing of democratically elected legislators from the European Parliament can solely be accomplished in response to the regulation of the MEP’s nation of origin, on this case, Belgium.