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European Parliament in Strasbourg
Photo: Dwi Anoraganingrum / Future Image / IMAGO
The house of Belgian MEP Maria Arena has been searched in the context of the corruption scandal in the EU Parliament. In addition, there have been further searches in places that are directly or indirectly connected to her family, the Belgian prosecutor's office said in the evening. Documents and technology had been confiscated. "I am convinced that the investigation will show that I am not involved in this matter in any way," Arena said through her lawyer, according to the Belgian news agency Belga.
The bribery scandal, which became public at the end of last year, is about alleged influence on decisions of the EU Parliament by the governments of Qatar and Morocco. Suspects include former Vice-President of the Parliament, Eva Kaili, her partner Francesco Giorgi, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and alleged mastermind Antonio Panzeri.
Arena has not yet been investigated. However, she resigned from the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Human Rights after it became known that she had disclosed a business trip paid for by Qatar only well after the corruption scandal became known.
czl/dpa