Lawyers representing Italian MEP
Andrea Cozzolino said Tuesday intelligence services have been
playing a role in the so-called Qatargate bribery scandal that
their client is accused of being involved in.
Cozzolino was in court in Naples on Tuesday for a hearing
regarding a request by Belgian prosecutors for his extradition
over the case of alleged attempts by Qatar and Morocco to
influence EU affairs via bribery.
Cozzolino, who has been suspended by Italy's centre-left
Democratic Party (PD) and suspended himself from the Socialists
and Democrats (S&D) caucus in the European Parliament, denies
any wrongdoing.
The case presents an "increasingly opaque scenario behind which
a parallel, underground foreign policy match is being played
and, in the background of which, the actions of the secret
services continue to hang," Cozzolino's lawyers said.
The defence lawyers said this gave "good reason to doubt that
the Belgian judicial system can guarantee Cozzolino a fair
trial".
Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who was removed from her position as
European Parliament vice president after the scandal exploded
and has been in jail since December 9, has been charged too in
relation to the case, along with her Italian partner Francesco
Giorgi.
Former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, a central figure in the
scandal, has started to cooperate with Belgian prosecutors after
reaching a plea bargain for a one-year jail term.
Giorgi is also Panzeri's former assistant.
Another Italian under investigation over the case, Niccolo'
Figa'-Talamanca, the secretary general of the No Peace Without
Justice NGO, has been released from prison.
Two other MEPs, Italo-Belgian Marc Tarabella and Italy's Maria
Arena, are also implicated in the case.
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