Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, one of the suspects in the scandal Cathargatedefended his innocence today condemned the position of Pier Antonio Pancheri“repentant” in the case and his “friend” a socialist, whom he accuses of telling the investigators his name.

Tarabella, 60, spoke to reporters at his lawyer’s office in Liege the day after Judge Michel Klez removed his electronic bracelet.

Reiterating his innocence of allegations of corruption, he claimed that he was charged “only on the basis” of statements by Puncheri “who called my name there in the hope that he himself would not be devoured”.

“At one time, we were all disappointed by a friend who lied, but fortunately, very few paid for this lie with months in prison,” continued Tarabella, who read a pre-written text and then left the room without answering questions from reporters. questions.

He explained that Panzeri, an Italian former MEP (2004-2019) who became director of the NGO, was an “old friend” for him, with whom he spoke regularly about football, their shared passion and especially the Italian championship. “I fell from the clouds” when he was arrested on 9 December.

Pancheri, in whose house some of the cash was found on December 9, admitted in January that he orchestrated the scam. He made a deal with prosecutors for just one year in prison in exchange for specific allegations of fraud and the people involved.

According to the Belgian press, the Italian charged Mark Tarabella with investigators, claiming to have paid him a total of “between 120,000 and 140,000 euros” for his assistance in Qatar-related cases. The person concerned denies these accusations.

“I have nothing to do with all this, I did not receive money or gifts in exchange for my political views,” Tarabela repeated today.

At the request of Judge Klis, the European Parliament granted the Belgian MEP immunity on February 2 (a measure he also voted for). He was taken into custody on February 11 and released two months later with an electronic bracelet. The electronic bracelet arrived yesterday, Tuesday.

Although he reiterates that he wants to return to his seat in the European Parliament, according to those around him, he will not run for another term in 2024.

As part of his judicial supervision, in order to go to the plenary session in Strasbourg – and therefore leave Belgian territory – he will have to request the permission of the investigator.

With information from APE-MPE and AFP