Belgian studies Cathargate as two more MEPs join the ranks of the prosecutor’s office, Maria Arena And Alessandra Morettiunder an international warrant for the arrest of a member of the European Parliament. Andrea Coccolino, who was arrested last week on charges of corruption, money laundering and membership in a criminal organization. This is reported by the Politico website, which received the warrant.

In addition, from the same document it follows that the former member of the European Parliament Pier Antonio Pancheri and her partner Eva Kylie, Francesco Giorgi, considered appointing either the former Vice President of the European Parliament or Kotsolinos to investigate Morocco’s acquisition of the Pegasus malware to advance the country’s interests. According to press reports, Morocco may have used software to hack the Spanish government.

Solution for Panchery

Last night, a decision was made to extend Puncheri and Kylie’s detention for another two months after their request for release was denied. “When a person becomes a symbol and is held symbolically because he is known as the Vice President of the European Parliament, the case does not make sense,” commented Eva Kylie’s lawyer Sven Marie, noting that there is no more excuse. for the possibility of destruction of evidence or cooperation. “We asked for parole and house arrest. Her prison conditions are difficult, she does not belong in the Kharen prison, but at home with her 24-month-old daughter.” In one example contained in the warrant, Arena and Moretti appeared to be acting on instructions from Panzeri during a meeting on a possible European Parliament resolution on Qatar in late 2021. At the time, Panzeri was no longer an MEP and was not present at the meeting himself, but instructed a former staff member to try to influence the wording of the resolution.

Meanwhile, Arena and Moretti were allegedly members of the four, along with Coccolino and Mark Tarabella, who was also arrested last week. The scandal rocked Brussels, where Belgian authorities ransacked homes and offices in December 2022 amid accusations that Qatar and Morocco were distributing money and gifts to win favorable treatment in the European Parliament. Since then, the body, which frequently raises issues of moral order and the rule of law, has gone through a period of soul-searching and reflection as its leaders attempt to distance themselves from those involved and push for reform.

The plans and identities of the quartet members were revealed in messages sent to Panzeri by his former assistant, Giuseppe Meroni, who at the time was still working for the Socialist Group (S&D). Pancheri cooperates with the authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence. “Qatar is resolved,” Meroni said in a text message to Panzeri’s former boss, according to the warrant. After the meeting, the former MEP was briefed on what had happened by both Arena and Giorgi, who is currently in prison.

“Information exchange”

“I can only say that this was a legitimate exchange of information within the framework of normal parliamentary political activity,” Meroni said, when asked by Politico. For his part, Moretti, the MEP named on the warrant, denies the allegations. “I never followed orders from Puncheri, in December 2021 no decisions were discussed.” Unlike in the cases of Coccolino and Tarabella, the authorities did not ask the European Parliament to strip Arena and Moretti of their immunity, which is necessary to investigate or charge them.