The ex-deputy, accused, among other things, of corruption and money laundering, is suspected of having perceived money paid by the Gulf country to influence political decisions within the Parliament.
mo12345lemonde with AFP
Presented by Belgian investigators as the main cog of the alleged criminal organization funded by Qatar, the former Italian Eleurputed Pier Antonio Panzeri signed an agreement with the federal prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, January 17, providing for him to collaborate with now with Authorities in exchange for a “limited” firm prison sentence.
“Through this memorandum”, specifies the Belgian prosecution in a press release, “he undertakes to inform investigators and justice in particular on the modus operandi [of alleged fraud], financial arrangements with third -party states, The financial constructions implemented, and the beneficiaries of the structures implemented and advantages offered “. His statements will have to be “substantial, revealing, sincere and complete” on his participation in the alleged facts and that of third parties, adds the text. In addition, Mr. Panzeri, who is currently imprisoned, will also have to inform investigators about “the involvement of people known or not yet known in the file, including the identity of the people he admits to having corrupt”.
In exchange for this collaboration, provided for in Belgium by a law of 2018 on the status of “repentant”, “the penalty incurred by Mr. Panzeri will be effective, but limited. It will include prison, a fine and the Confiscation of all the patrimonial advantages acquired, evaluated currently at one million euros “, continues the press release.
among the four people charged
Pier Antonio Panzeri, 67, was arrested in Brussels on December 9, the same day as vice-president of the European Parliament, the elected Greek socialist Eva Kaili, and a Italian parliamentary assistant, Francesco Giorgi , companion of M me kaili.
With Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, an Italian responsible for NGOs who is also under the locks, all were charged with “belonging to a criminal organization”, “money laundering” and “corruption” in the case called Qatargate. They are suspected of having perceived large sums of cash from Qatar to influence, in favor of the emirate, the statements and political decisions within the only elected institution of the European Union, in particular with regard to workers’ rights.
In this survey entrusted in the summer of 2022 to the Brussels investigating judge Michel Claise, a search at the Brussels home of Mr. Panzeri made it possible to discover the sum of 600,000 euros in cash, according to a judicial source. According to the press, he also received Morocco funds to support the interests of the kingdom in the European Parliament. Qatar and Morocco firmly disputed these allegations.