“I have no idea whether or how much money was found,” assures the lawyer for the Greek Vice President of the European Parliament.
The lawyer for Eva Kaili, the Greek Vice-President of the European Parliament who is being held on suspicion of corruption, assured on Tuesday that she had not accepted “bribes from Qatar”. “Her position is that she is innocent. This has nothing to do with bribes from Qatar,” lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos told Greek private broadcaster Open TV.
When asked if money was found on his client, the attorney said: “I neither confirm nor deny, confidentiality applies. I have no idea if money was found or how much was found.” The European Parliament has been rocked by a vocal alleged corruption scandal since Eva Kaili, a 44-year-old socialist and one of the institution’s 14 vice-presidents, was arrested in Brussels on Friday.
An “attack” on democracy
She is suspected of having been paid by Qatar to defend the interests of the emirate, which is currently organizing the soccer World Cup. According to the Belgian federal prosecutor, spectacular sums of money were confiscated during the 20 searches carried out by Monday evening, including 600,000 euros in the apartment of one of the suspects. Three other people, including his companion, were detained in that investigation, while his father, who was arrested on Friday, was released.
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“He is free if he wants to return to Greece,” said Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, portrayed by the Greek media as one of Eva Kaili’s three lawyers. The President of the European Parliament, of which Eva Kaili has sat since 2014, denounced the case as an “attack” on democracy, while Doha denied being involved in attempts at corruption. This scandal also triggered a shock wave in Greece, where deals and suspicions of corruption plagued the country and fed the populace.
Many Greeks have expressed their shame at seeing this former TV presenter and Member of Parliament (Vouli) involved in such a scandal. In Athens, the anti-money laundering agency has frozen the entire assets of MEPs who were sacked from the socialist Pasok party and their families.