Pier Antonio Panzeri, the alleged mastermind behind the Qatargate, must tell the whole truth to Belgian justice authorities and hide nothing. If he doesn’t, he not only “breaks the deal” but will also be accused of “perverting the course of justice”, a source close to the matter told EURACTIV.
Panzeri recently sealed a deal with the Belgian justice to speak out regarding Qatargate and provide all necessary information related to the scandal. In exchange, he would get a softer sentence.
“Panzeri is going to give new names involved in the scandal of Qatar and Morocco”, the source said.
So far, Panzeri had remained silent.
But an Italian court’s decision to extradite his daughter to Belgium put pressure on him, and the fact that both MEP Eva Kaili and her partner, Francesco Giorgi – a former assistant of Panzeri – put the whole blame on him since the day they were arrested.
The source said that Panzeri surprised everyone with the move to collaborate with the Belgian authorities.
For her part, Kaili insists she is innocent. She has said she knew about the cash found in suitcases in her apartment but has said this money belonged to Panzeri.
The source said Kaili was offered since the beginning to make such a deal if she would admit being guilty, but she refused to do so, the source said.
“Politically, she would be over, but legally, she would get a better sentence […] she could continue her life in the private sector”, the source said.
Morocco may be more serious
The source explained that Panzeri’s charges of “active bribery” are softer than “passive bribery”, which Kaili is accused of.
“Panzeri will claim that he acted as a ‘mediator’ for his ‘client’ Qatar”, the source said, referring to his hearing on the matter on Tuesday.
The same source also estimated that the case of Morocco might end up being “more serious” compared to Qatar.
For her part, Kaili’s lawyer has said that during the interrogation, the Greek MEP has been through “tortures” violating the European Convention on Human Rights.
Meanwhile, EU institutions are on alert, fearing that more names may come to the spotlight following Panzeri’s hearing.
(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
