The alleged ringleader of what is known as ‘Qatargate‘ He agrees to collaborate with Justice in exchange for reducing his sentence. The former socialist MEP Pier Antonio Panzerithe main defendant in Belgium for the plot of alleged bribes involving people linked to the European Parliament, has reached an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office to detail the ‘modus operandi’ and the countries and names involved, in exchange for a lesser penalty.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office has reported that it is a “commitment on the part of the repentant of provide substantial, disclosing, truthful, and complete statements on the participation of third parties and, where appropriate, their own participation in the crimes that are the subject of the case”.
In turn, the terms of the agreement include that the sanction applied to Panzeri will be “effective but limited”although it will not avoid “firm imprisonment, a fine and the confiscation of all acquired patrimonial benefits”, according to the statement, which places them at at least one million euros.
The “memorandum” signed by Panzeri, accompanied by his lawyers, and the prosecutor, establishes that the former MEP must inform both the investigators and the Belgian Justice of key issues such as the ‘modus operandi’financial agreements with third States and the financial architecture start up.
Panzeri also commits to give information about the “beneficiaries of the structures created and the advantages offered” and the “involvement of people already known or not yet” in the framework of the investigation, including the names of people whom he confesses to having corrupted. This is the second time in Belgian judicial history that an agreement of this type has been closed with a “repentant”, according to the Prosecutor’s Office .
Scandal in the European Parliament
Panzeri was indicted on December 10, accused of being the head of a criminal organization and participate in activities money laundering and public corruption active and passive.
In the framework of the same investigation that, according to Belgian media, points to the payment of bribes by Qatar and Morocco to gain weight in the European Union through MEPs, three other people have been charged so far, including the Greek socialist eva kailiVice President of the European Parliament, fired after scandalas well as his partner and parliamentary assistantFrancesco Giorgio.
This same week, in addition, the European Parliament launches the formal procedure to process the request of the Belgian Justice of waive the immunity of two other MEPs Socialists, the Italian Andrea Cozzolino and the Belgian Marc Tarabella, so that they can be investigated for the same cause.
Source: Lasexta
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
