Former EU MP’s accountant arrested in Italy for corruption
The scandal hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, NGOs and parliament assistants to influence decisions of the EU assembly
18 January 2023 - 17:01
byEmilio Parodi and Alvise Armellini
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The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on December 13, 2022. File Picture: REUTERS/YVES HERMAN
Milan — The tax consultant of a former EU legislator at the centre of a cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament has been arrested in Italy, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
The scandal, the biggest to rock EU politics in decades, hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, parliamentary assistants and NGOs to influence decisions of the EU assembly.
Qatar reiterated that it had no involvement in the EU corruption scandal. Morocco complained of “judicial harassment” after the graft probe.
Monica Rossana Bellini, who worked for former centre-left parliamentarian Pier Antonio Panzeri, was arrested by the Guardia di Finanza tax police in Milan, on a request from Belgium through a European warrant.
She faces charges of criminal association, corruption and money laundering. Her two lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Panzeri, who was arrested in Brussels in December and charged with three others including Greek EU legislator Eva Kaili, has agreed to co-operate with investigations in exchange for a reduced sentence, a Belgian prosecutor said on Tuesday.
His sentence will include one year of prison time and four years of a suspended jail term, a fine and the confiscation of all assets acquired, estimated at €1m, the prosecutor's spokesperson, Eric Van Duyse, told Reuters.
Panzeri served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004-2019. After leaving the EU chamber he set up a Brussels-based NGO called Fight Impunity, which is accused of taking the illegal payments from Qatar and Morocco.
In December, Italian authorities put other members of the Panzeri household wanted by Belgian authorities under house arrest, namely his wife, Maria Dolores Colleoni, and daughter Silvia.
They have denied any wrongdoing.
On Monday, a court cleared Silvia Panzeri’s extradition to Belgium, while Colleoni has appealed against her transfer to Brussels before Italy's highest court, which is expected to rule on January 31.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Former EU MP’s accountant arrested in Italy for corruption
The scandal hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, NGOs and parliament assistants to influence decisions of the EU assembly
Milan — The tax consultant of a former EU legislator at the centre of a cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament has been arrested in Italy, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
The scandal, the biggest to rock EU politics in decades, hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, parliamentary assistants and NGOs to influence decisions of the EU assembly.
Qatar reiterated that it had no involvement in the EU corruption scandal. Morocco complained of “judicial harassment” after the graft probe.
Monica Rossana Bellini, who worked for former centre-left parliamentarian Pier Antonio Panzeri, was arrested by the Guardia di Finanza tax police in Milan, on a request from Belgium through a European warrant.
She faces charges of criminal association, corruption and money laundering. Her two lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Panzeri, who was arrested in Brussels in December and charged with three others including Greek EU legislator Eva Kaili, has agreed to co-operate with investigations in exchange for a reduced sentence, a Belgian prosecutor said on Tuesday.
His sentence will include one year of prison time and four years of a suspended jail term, a fine and the confiscation of all assets acquired, estimated at €1m, the prosecutor's spokesperson, Eric Van Duyse, told Reuters.
Panzeri served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004-2019. After leaving the EU chamber he set up a Brussels-based NGO called Fight Impunity, which is accused of taking the illegal payments from Qatar and Morocco.
In December, Italian authorities put other members of the Panzeri household wanted by Belgian authorities under house arrest, namely his wife, Maria Dolores Colleoni, and daughter Silvia.
They have denied any wrongdoing.
On Monday, a court cleared Silvia Panzeri’s extradition to Belgium, while Colleoni has appealed against her transfer to Brussels before Italy's highest court, which is expected to rule on January 31.
Reuters
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