Former vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, who has been arrested as part of the Qatar-gate scandal, will have a new hearing with the Belgian justice authorities on 19 January about her request to be released.
Kaili has been imprisoned since 9 December together with her partner Francesco Giorgi. Both are accused of being part of a criminal organisation, bribery and money laundering in the Qatar-gate scandal, which has shaken the EU House.
Her partner’s release request will be re-examined on 26 January, while Panzeri’s will be on 17 January.
According to her first testimony to the Belgian authorities published on Thursday by the Skai TV channel, the Greek MEP denied any involvement in the scandal and, instead, put the blame on her partner Giorgi.
Kaili’s husband was first arrested on 9 December by Belgian police. When she was informed about his arrest, she called her father, who was in Brussels and asked him to go to her place and take a suitcase which, according to her, belonged to the alleged “mastermind” of the Qatar-gate, Antonio Panzeri.
Asked by the Belgian authorities if she knew there was money in the suitcase, Kaili replied that she realised it when she opened the briefcase.
“I knew Giorgi was keeping something in our apartment that belonged to Panzeri”, she said.
Kaili also hinted that Panzeri took advantage of her MEP immunity to hide his money in her apartment.
A source close to the matter told EURACTIV that from all accusations Kaili faces, it would be hard to prove she was not involved in money laundering.
The same source added that, at least for now, the chances of temporarily releasing Kaili before the trial are few.
Meanwhile, press reports suggest that the Belgian authorities are also scrutinising her parliamentary activities in the digital and technology sector, where she has been quite active all these years.
(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
