A Greek MEP at the center of a corruption scandal that is shaking the European Parliament has protested against her innocence in a Belgian court and asked to be released from custody.
Eva Kaili, 44, had “actively” participated in the investigation by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office and applied to be released under electronic surveillance, her lawyer Andre Risopoulos said in front of the Brussels courtroom on Thursday.
It was expected that the judge, who only ruled on custody terms and did not weigh up the case himself, would make a decision later today.
Kaili, a former news reader who was sacked from her post as parliamentary vice president following police raids earlier this month, has become the face of the alleged corruption case.
Another lawyer for Kaili, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, told reporters Wednesday she felt miserable, “very concerned” and betrayed by her boyfriend and co-defendant Francesco Giorgi.
“Things are difficult, but we have very strong legal arguments to release them,” he said, arguing that Kaili “poses no flight risk and is unable to destroy evidence.”
She was arrested on December 9 when Belgian police found 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) in cash while searching a number of addresses. Kaili was charged shortly thereafter and has been in custody ever since.
Three other suspects — her partner Giorgi, the head of an NGO that was allegedly used to transfer money, and a former MP turned lobbyist, all Italians — were also arrested.
All four are accused of “criminal organization, corruption and money laundering.”
A Belgian judge approved Kaili’s arrest and detention on the grounds that she was allegedly caught red-handed with cash, meaning that her usual parliamentary immunity could not be invoked.
According to their own statements, the public prosecutor had suspected for months that a Gulf state was trying to influence decisions in Brussels.
As various media reported that Qatar was at the center of the allegations, a Qatari official told CNN Breaking News that the country “categorically rejects any attempts to link it to allegations of misconduct.”
The MEP denies having received money from Qatar to influence decisions in the EU Parliament that concern him.
Thursday’s hearing was held behind closed doors.