Belgium performs raids in the corruption investigation of the EU Parliament

The Belgian police raided several directions in the country on Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption “under the appearance of commercial lobbying,” prosecutors said.

Several people were arrested for questioning their “alleged participation in active corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for falsification and use of falsifications,” said the federal prosecutor’s office.

About 100 police officers participated in the operation that saw a total of 21 searches held in Belgium and Portugal, he added.

The Belgian newspaper LE SOIR and the research website follows The Money (FTM) said the investigation was linked to Chinese technological giant Huawei and its activities in Brussels since 2021.

Huawei did not immediately respond to the request for AFP comments.

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National South Korea arrested in China under suspicion of espionage

National South Korea arrested in China under suspicion of espionage

The raids occur more than two years after the “Qatargate” scandal, in which several EU legislators were accused of receiving the payment of the interests of Qatar and Morocco, something that both countries have strongly denied.