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MEP Marc Tarabella’s lawyer claims his shopper has nothing to do with the corruption case that’s shaking the European Parliament, and that the Belgian lawmaker is the sufferer of a witch hunt.
In an interview with POLITICO, the Belgian socialist MEP’s lawyer, Maxim Töller, closely criticized the continued investigation by Belgian authorities, which led to the arrest of 4 individuals suspected of corruption earlier this month.
In alleged confessions leaked to Belgian and Italian media, one suspect — Francesco Giorgi — accused Tarabella of receiving cash from Qatar.
However Tarabella has not been formally arrested or charged by the Belgian prosecutors. Belgian and Italian retailers reported that former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who has been arrested by the police, additionally implicated Tarabella, denouncing the Belgian MEP as a beneficiary of “presents” coming from Qatar.
In response, Tarabella’s lawyer hit again: “Mr Tarabella has by no means obtained any reward or cash to affect any choice in any way, and from anybody. He would have denounced it instantly if he had been approached about it.”
Tarabella will battle laborious for his case to be heard. Requested how his shopper was doing, the lawyer mentioned: “He’s offended. He’s saddened. However he’s combative. He’s actually combating. He’s going to battle.”
‘Partial’ leaks
The so-called Qatargate allegations have seen 4 suspects arrested on preliminary fees of “participation in a prison group, cash laundering and corruption.” They embody Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP who was ousted as European Parliament vp when the case erupted.
Claims that senior politicians have been concerned in allegedly taking money to additional the pursuits of nations akin to Qatar within the EU Parliament threaten to destroy the bloc’s political credibility, and have triggered widespread dismay in European capitals and the corridors of energy in Brussels.
However the Belgian authorities’ investigation has additionally been controversial, attorneys of the suspects say.
Töller mentioned he wrote to the investigative Justice of the Peace Michel Claise stressing that “there was an enormous downside of process” because of the leaks of key paperwork to media, together with information of Kaili and Panzeri’s confessions.
The lawyer added that whoever is the supply of these alleged leaks was “somebody partial,” as most of the leaks have been parts “incriminating” Tarabella. The lawyer mentioned in his letter to Claise he had referred to as for these “people [to] be faraway from the investigation instantly.” In any other case, the entire investigation will likely be bothered with “procedural or neutral” points. Which means that “all fees must be dropped.”
On Tuesday, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s workplace mentioned it might launch an investigation into the press leaks, amid fears that they may “jeopardize” the case. A spokesman mentioned Wednesday that they have been “involved by the leaks” however declined to remark intimately on Töller’s criticism.
Tarabella’s residence was searched by Belgian police on December 10. Töller mentioned that the police seized “two telephones, two pill laptops – together with that of his son” – and two folders with paperwork awaiting his signature.
Tarabella has not been interviewed by investigators, though his home was raided, the lawyer mentioned. “He has not even been summoned, nothing in any respect.”
“His trial has began within the media, and he isn’t even heard by the police but,” Töller mentioned.
The lawyer added that “no luxurious objects” have been discovered at Tarabella’s home, regardless of the “money-sniffing canine” utilized by the police in the course of the raid. “If my shopper was corrupt, one would at the least have discovered one thing.”
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