Greek MEP Eva Kaili, the last suspect still in prison in the “Qatargate” scandal, was released from a Belgian prison on Friday. After four months of detention, he was placed under house arrest under an electronic bracelet.
“My daughter is waiting for me and I’m very happy to find her,” the 44-year-old elected socialist told reporters waiting for him in the morning at his Brussels home. “The struggle continues with the determination of my lawyers. We will talk soon, thank you,” said the ousted vice-president of the European Parliament.
Eva Kaili is suspected of advocating for European Parliament decisions over the years in favor of foreign powers, including Qatar, in exchange for payments. She claims her innocence. In mid-December, he was removed from his position as Vice-President of the European Parliament.
read more: Qatargate: Former European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kylie remains in prison
Eva Kylie did not benefit from her parliamentary ban because the crime was discovered in bags of tickets in her apartment. Qatar and Morocco have vehemently denied any evidence of corruption.
Other suspects were detained at home
Michel Claes, the Belgian trial judge in charge of the case, decided on Wednesday to release him from prison and house arrest under an electronic bracelet. Belgian justice has made similar decisions in recent days for two suspects, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri.
A fourth suspect, Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, was arrested and later placed under house arrest in Italy on February 11. He is challenging his extradition to Belgium under a European arrest warrant in Italian courts. A hearing on his extradition to Belgium has been postponed to May 2 at the Naples Court of Appeal.
read more: Corruption in the European Parliament: Corrupt Panzeri cooperates
Finally, the parliamentary aide Francesco Giorgi, a companion of Eva Kylie and close to Antonio Panzeri, was placed under an electronic bracelet at the end of February after being detained in Belgium for more than two months.
Like his partner and Antonio Panzeri in the first wave of arrests in Brussels on December 9, investigators found 1.5 million euros in cash distributed in bags or suitcases.
read more: Raphael Glucksman: “The European Parliament has become a sieve”
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