MEPs investigated over ‘suspected bribes from Huawei'
On Thursday, the federal prosecutor's office said that police had searched 21 premises and questioned several suspects 'in connection with their alleged involvement in active corruption within the European parliament'.
It said: 'Several individuals have been arrested for questioning in connection with their alleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forging and use of forgeries.'
The probe was initiated by Belgium's intelligence services, the Financial Times reported.
Those arrested were understood to include former MEPs, it was also reported.
As many as 15 MEPs and former MEPs are suspected of taking bribes from the Chinese state-controlled tech giant, according to reports.
It was alleged that MEPs had been paid or given 'excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches' in exchange for favourable political statements.
The 'alleged bribery' would have benefited Huawei, the prosecutor's office later added.
The illicit payments were allegedly disguised as fees for conferences or hidden through 'various intermediaries, with a view to concealing their illicit nature or enabling the perpetrators to escape the consequences of their actions'.
The prosecutor's office said: 'The corruption is said to have been practised regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day, under the guise of commercial lobbying.'
Belgian media and the Dutch investigative outfit Follow the Money (FTM) were the first to report the raids.
Belgian police said the raids extended to Portugal, where FTM reported that a firm was allegedly helping to channel the money to MEPs.
The MEPs in question are yet to be named in public. But documents and objects were seized and are subject to in-depth analysis, the prosecutor's office said.
A European Parliament spokesperson said: 'We have received a request for co-operation from the Belgian authorities to assist the investigation, which the Parliament will swiftly and fully honour.'
Parliament officials insisted the institution was not part of the raids and they have not been asked to lift the immunity of any members implicated in the investigation.
Before the police can investigate sitting members of the EU Parliament, they must request their immunity be lifted.
Huawei is considered a high-risk company by many European governments because of its links with the Chinese Communist Party.
A number of national capitals have blocked the company from providing 5G mobile internet infrastructure because of the concerns.
The latest probe comes after the so-called Qatar-gate scandal, in which MEPs were accused of taking bribes from Qatar and Morocco in exchange for favourable political decisions.
Eva Kaili, a former vice-president of the EU Parliament, and other MEPs and assistants were arrested as part of the major graft and corruption investigation.
More than €1.5 million (£1.3 million) in cash was seized from suspects as part of the probe.
Ms Kaili, Francesco Giorgi, Ms Kaili's partner, and Antonio Panzeri, a former MEP, were among those charged with corruption and money laundering.
They all deny any wrongdoing and are still awaiting trial.
The Telegraph has contacted Huawei for a comment.
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