An NGO leader who was among four suspects imprisoned in December in the investigation of an alleged corruption scandal in the European Parliament has been released, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced on Monday. This is the Italian Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, who had stepped down from his duties as secretary general of the NGO “No Peace Without Justice” on December 12, the day after his imprisonment. Belgian justice has been investigating since the summer of 2022 a system of corruption involving in particular Morocco within the only elected institution of the European Union. The case broke out on December 9 with the arrest of six suspects and the seizure in several places in Brussels of a total of 1.5 million euros in cash transported in bags or suitcases. Four of the six suspects were imprisoned by the investigating judge, including Greek MEP Eva Kaili, stripped of her post as vice-president of Parliament, where the scandal created a shock wave. According to the Belgian newspaper L’Echo, Mr. Figa-Talamanca was served with his release by the examining magistrate on Friday, the day after a hearing by the police of the “repentant” Pier Antonio Panzeri. This former Italian MEP, central figure in the file, who agreed on January 17 to collaborate with the investigators, would have relativized the role of Mr. Figa-Talamanca in what has been described as a “criminal organization” for the benefit of foreign powers . “At the current stage, the elements of the file no longer justify his incarceration”, simply indicated a spokesperson for the federal prosecution, refusing to comment. express on a possible link with the hearing of Mr. Panzeri. So remain imprisoned Ms. Kaili, Mr. Panzeri (who negotiated a one-year prison sentence) as well as Francesco Giorgi, former parliamentary assistant to the latter and who is also the companion of the Greek MEP. In this investigation, two other MEPs, the Belgian Marc Tarabella and the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, could be heard soon. The European Parliament lifted their immunity last Thursday in plenary session. The two elected deny any embezzlement. two other MEPs, the Belgian Marc Tarabella and the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, could be heard soon. The European Parliament lifted their immunity last Thursday in plenary session. The two elected deny any embezzlement. two other MEPs, the Belgian Marc Tarabella and the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, could be heard soon. The European Parliament lifted their immunity last Thursday in plenary session. The two elected deny any embezzlement.
source: lexpressiondz
