MEP at heart of Qatar-Morocco bribery case to remain in jail

Politician Eva Kaili, who was stripped of her role as European Parliament Vice President amid a corruption investigation case involving Qatar, will remain in custody, said the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office on January 19th.

“In its order this morning, the pre-council chamber confirmed the pre-trial detention of E.K. (Eva Kaili). If she appeals this decision within 24 hours, she will appear before the Indictment Chamber at the Brussels Court of Appeal within 15 days,” it said in a statement.

European lawmaker Eva Kaili, who is Greek, has been accused of accepting bribes from Qatar in one of the biggest corruption scandals to hit Brussels.

Kaili has denied any wrongdoing and previously stated through her lawyer that she is innocent.

The scandal, the biggest to rock EU politics in decades, hinges on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, parliamentary assistants and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to influence decisions of the EU assembly.

Qatar has reiterated that it had no involvement in the EU corruption scandal. Morocco complained of “judicial harassment” after the graft probe.

Reuters