Four people charged over Qatar's alleged bribing of EU Officials which include Eva Kaili, an MEP who serves as one of the parliament’s 14 vice-presidents. #europeanparliament #corruption #arrests #DWNews #TheGuardian

"Belgian prosecutors investigating allegations that Qatar has sought to influence EU policy by bribing European parliament officials have charged four people with money laundering, corruption and participating in a criminal organisation. 

The charges, which were announced on Sunday, came two days after police arrested four people and seized computers, mobile phones and €600,000 (£515,000) in cash during searches at 16 properties across Brussels. 

According to Belgium’s federal prosecutor, officers examining one of the biggest alleged corruption cases in the parliament’s recent history believe a Gulf country – identified by Belgian media as Qatar – has used bribes and gifts to try to influence decisions at the legislature. 

Although the prosecutor’s office did not identify the four by name, a judicial source told Agence France-Presse that they include Eva Kaili, an MEP for the social democratic Greek Pasok party who serves as one of the parliament’s 14 vice-presidents.

The home of a second MEP was searched on Saturday evening, the prosecutor’s office said. 

“It is suspected that third parties in political and/or strategic positions within the European parliament were paid large sums of money or offered substantial gifts to influence parliament’s decisions,” the office said in a statement. 

“Four individuals have been arrested by the Brussels investigating judge who’s leading the investigation. They are charged with participation in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption. Two persons have been released by the investigating judge.”" 

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