Four people arrested as part of an inquiry into Gulf state buying EU influence

Belgian police seized cash and searched 16 properties across Brussels during a major investigation into corruption and money laundering

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Police in Belgium detained four people and raided several properties across Brussels on Friday as part of an investigation into a criminal organization, corruption, and money laundering involving the European Parliament.

The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said police suspect an unidentified Gulf country of trying “to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament.”

A former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) was among those detained by police.

This potentially explosive case, breaking out in the middle of the Football World Cup, resulted from this Friday in the first searches and arrests in Brussels, as confirmed by the federal prosecutor’s office: “The federal judicial police carried out 16 searches (at 14 different addresses) in several Brussels municipalities.

In particular in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Crainhem, Forest, and Brussels-City. These searches were carried out as part of a broad investigation for alleged acts of a criminal organization, corruption, and money laundering.

Gulf lobbying at EU Parliament

Authorities believe the Gulf country tried to sway the European Parliament by, “paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties with a significant political and strategic position within the European Parliament.”

Prosecutors did not name the country involved but Belgian publications Le Soir and Knack citing “several well-informed sources” reported that Qatari officials were engaged in trying to corrupt a former Italian MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group.

Investigators recovered around €600,000 ($633,500) in cash and seized computer equipment and mobile telephones during the raids.

A spokesperson for the European Parliament would not comment while an investigation was underway, but said the assembly was cooperating fully with police.

Well stocked safe

This morning’s searches allowed the officers led by Judge Calise to get their hands on more than half a million euros in cash. According to information from Le Soir and Knack, these approximately 600,000 euros in cash were discovered in the Brussels residence of the former MEP.

Luca Visentini was elected Secretary General of Ituc in November. A confederation of trade unions from all over the world, including Belgian organizations, represents more than 200 million workers.

For Qatar, it would be a question of defending “its” much-decried Football World Cup, and the supposed progress of the emirate on human rights or the working conditions of migrants.