She will remain a prisoner Eva Kylieas the pre-trial council decided yesterday Brusselsdenying her request for parole pending trial Cathargate. The pre-trial council’s statement was official, saying that “in the context of a wide-ranging investigation being conducted by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office into an alleged criminal organization, corruption and money laundering, E.K. appeared this afternoon in the pre-trial chambers of the Court of First Instance in Brussels. […] The Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed the detention of E.K. If he appeals this decision within 24 hours, he will be brought before the competent branch of the Brussels Court of Appeal within 15 days. In order to protect the investigation, no additional information will be released at this time.” If no appeal is filed, Eva Kylie has the option to reapply for release after one month.

According to the statement of the defenders, the defendant insisted on his innocence and referred to the fact that he was the mother of a 23-month-old child who cannot live alone, since he has the right to see him only once a month. The MEP reportedly told the council that she would accept even more restrictive conditions in exchange for her release, namely not only wearing a “bracelet” but monitoring her mobile phone around the clock to prevent tampering with the case file.

The MEP maintained her innocence and told the judges that he would accept strict conditions in exchange for his release from prison.

Lawyers for Ms. Risopoulos and Dimitrakopoulos argued that the Belgian authorities could not maintain a double standard against the accused because while their leader was in prison, others were outside preparing their line of defense.

“Medieval Conditions”

Before the council’s decision was announced, defense lawyers emphasized that their client was being held in custody under medieval conditions that violated human rights. Lawyer Mr. Dimitrakopoulos said that his client was isolated for 16 hours in a police cell, and not in prison, between January 11 and 13, 2023, by order of the investigator. “With the lights on all the time so he can’t sleep in the cold. She was denied a second blanket while she was unwell. This is torture! emphasized Mr. Dimitrakopoulos.