Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Several months ago, a judicial investigation into the bribery of members of the European Parliament by an Arab Gulf state appeared in Brussels. In this context, 16 searches were carried out today, Friday, and four people were arrested. According to local media reports. The people, among them, are employees of the European Parliament and activists in non-governmental associations interested in the human rights file. A former member of the European Parliament was also subjected to interrogation.
The Belgian prosecutor's office confirmed the news. According to the Belgian news agency, which published a statement by the office, which said, "Investigators of the Federal Judicial Police in Belgium have suspected for several months that an Arab Gulf country is trying to influence economic and political decision-making in the European Parliament. They have done so by paying large sums of money or making substantial gifts to third parties related to an important political or strategic position within the European Parliament,”
The Federal Prosecutor General did not want to reveal which Gulf country was involved. But Knak Newspaper and Le Soir heard from several informed sources that the matter is related to the State of Qatar, the country organizing the World Cup. In addition, investigators are looking into whether Qatar has tried to influence positions in the European Parliament in a way that goes beyond traditional pressure.
According to the same sources, a judicial investigation has been opened into criminal organization, corruption and money laundering. In this investigation, 16 searches were carried out on Friday in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Kreinem, Forest and Brussels, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said.
During the searches, investigators seized around 600,000 euros in cash and a lot of IT equipment and mobile phones, all of which will be analysed.