Belgian prosecutors arrest 'Huawei lobbyists' in corruption probe linked to EU parliament
Topic:Corruption
11m ago11 minutes agoThu 13 Mar 2025 at 1:43pm
2022-01-11T092542Z_1399224578_RC2XWR93XMXJ_RTRMADP_3_EU-PARLIAMENT-PRESIDENT-DEATH
Belgian prosecutors say multiple people have been arrested in corruption raids linked to the European Parliament. (Reuters: Yves Herman)
In short:
Multiple people have been arrested by Belgian prosecutors who raided addresses as part of a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament.
Local reports suggest the probe centres on lobbyists working for the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei suspected of bribing EU members to promote the company's commercial policy.
What's next?
Belgian newspaper Le Soir says "several lobbyists" in custody are due to appear in front of a judge for questioning.
Belgian federal prosecutors say they have arrested multiple individuals as part of a corruption probe linked to the European Parliament amid reports that Chinese company Huawei bribed EU lawmakers.
Some 100 federal police officers carried out 21 searches during raids in Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia and Portugal, according to the Belgian federal prosecutor's office.
The suspects were arrested for questioning in "connection with their alleged involvement in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for forgery and use of forgeries," prosecutors said.
"The offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organisation."
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Local reports suggest the probe focuses on lobbyists working for the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei suspected of bribing European Parliament members to promote the company's commercial policy. (Reuters: Gonzalo Fuentes)
According to an investigation by the French-language Belgian newspaper Le Soir and other media, lobbyists working for the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei are suspected of bribing current or former members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to promote the company's commercial policy in Europe.
Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The federal prosecutor's office — which did not name Huawei — said that corruption is believed to have been practised "regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day".
"Taking various forms, such as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches,"
the office said.
The alleged kickbacks were concealed as conference expenses and paid to various intermediaries, the prosecutors' office said, adding it was looking at whether money laundering had also been involved.
Police seized several documents and objects during the searches on Thursday.
Le Soir said police had taken "several lobbyists" into custody and they were due to appear in front of a judge for questioning. None of those held for questioning on Thursday were EU lawmakers, a police source told AFP.
A spokesperson for the European Parliament said that it "takes note of the information".
This is the second corruption case targeting the EU Parliament in less than three years.
In December 2022, the legislature was left reeling after a corruption scandal in which Qatari officials accused of bribing EU officials to play down labour rights concerns ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The scandal scarred the reputation of the EU's only institution comprised of officials elected directly in the 27 member countries.
It also undermined the assembly's claim to the moral high ground in its own investigations, such as into allegations of corruption in member country Hungary.
The impact of the scandal is still being felt, with the parliament due to rule soon on whether to lift the immunity of two more lawmakers who were implicated
AP/AFP
Posted11m ago11 minutes agoThu 13 Mar 2025 at 1:43pm
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