Authorities detained two European Union lawmakers Friday in connection with the “Qatargate” corruption scandal that rocked the European Parliament in December.
Prosecutors in Belgium questioned Marc Tarabella, a member of the European Parliament, on Friday afternoon.
Italian finance police, acting on behalf of Belgian prosecutors, also arrested Andrea Cozzolino at a clinic in Naples on Friday.
The two Members of the European Parliament are accused of accepting bribes, a charge they both deny.
The arrests come after the European Parliament voted to waive the immunity of Tarabella and Cozzolino last week.
In December 2022, police raided a number of homes, offices and hotels in Brussels and Italy and found roughly €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cash.
Tarabella’s lawyer confirmed that the member of the European Parliament had visited Qatar twice.
Qatar has denied any involvement in the scandal.
Summary above derives from this news link -> : Two EU lawmakers detained in Qatar bribery investigation
