[ad_1]
Belgian police searched 16 houses and apprehended 4 individuals in and round Brussels on Friday morning, as a part of an investigation into lobbying by a Gulf state on the European Parliament.
The searches have been carried out as a part of a wider investigation into “prison group, corruption and cash laundering,” and primarily focused parliamentary assistants, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s workplace stated in an announcement.
A former Socialists & Democrats MEP and a high-ranking commerce union official have been amongst these detained by police and introduced in for questioning.
“For a number of months, investigators from the Federal Judicial Police suspect a Gulf nation of influencing the European Parliament’s (EP) financial and political choices,” the assertion added.
The Gulf state — named as Qatar by Belgian weekly Knack which cited “well-informed sources” — focused officers “with a major political and/or strategic place” on the European Parliament, sending them “substantial quantities of cash” and “vital presents,” in line with the prosecutor’s assertion.
Qatar has been the topic of latest controversy because the host of the 2022 World Cup, throughout which it has been criticized for its regressive insurance policies towards LGBTQ+ rights and migrant employees.
Investigators are wanting into whether or not Qatar has sought to affect positions within the European Parliament in ways in which “transcend traditional lobbying,” in line with Knack.
The police seized “roughly €600,000 in money,” cellphones and pc gear within the raids.
The Qatari authorities didn’t have an instantaneous response to a request for remark when contacted by POLITICO.
Camille Gijs contributed reporting.
[ad_2]
Source link