The former vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, accused of the alleged bribery scheme linked to Qatar and Morocco, will soon be released from prison and will now be placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, as confirmed by the prosecutor's office Brussels.
Eva Kaili was the only person accused of the bribery scheme known as Qatargate since last December who was still in prison and had not been placed under house arrest.
The couple of the former Greek socialist MEP, Francesco Georgi, and with whom they have a daughter in common, were already able to go out in February with an electronic bracelet. She was followed by the alleged ringleader of the plot, Antonio Panzeri, last week.
This former Italian MEP reached an agreement with the prosecution in which he accepted the status of "repentant" -similar to the figure that exists in Italy with members of the mafia- in which he promised to cooperate with the investigation and make "substantial and revealing” about the corruption plot. In return, the Italian could get some kind of benefit from his conviction. In addition, another Socialist Belgian MEP, Marc Tarabella, who was recently arrested has also been under house arrest since this week.
Panzeri, Georgi and Kaili were arrested in early December for being part of an alleged plot orchestrated by Qatar and Morocco to influence European decision-making. Kaili was arrested after thousands of euros in cash were found in her home and the father of the Greek politician was found with a suitcase containing approximately half a million euros. Panzeri was also found 600,000 euros at her home in Brussels. In total, according to the prosecution, at least one and a half million euros in cash have been found, allegedly related to the bribery scheme.
Kaili, until now the most important political figure related to Qatargate, had called for his release on numerous occasions, although until now he had been denied.
In addition to Kaili, Panzeri and Georgi, Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, the secretary general of the NGO No Peace Without Justice, also linked to the case, was also arrested for allegedly trying to influence decision-making. in his work as a lobbyist in the European Parliament and that now he is also wearing an electronic bracelet.
In February, the MEP Andrea Cozzolino, who is under house arrest in Naples, was arrested, as was Panzeri's accountant, Monica Rossana Bellini, as well as the wife and daughters of the alleged mastermind of the crime network.
