BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AFP) – Police on Friday detained a Belgian European Parliament member for questioning after searching a bank safe belonging to him as part of a probe into a bribery scandal that has rocked the European Union (EU).
Belgium’s federal prosecutors said “several raids” were carried out on Friday morning targetting the safe of lawmaker Marc Tarabella, 59, in the city of Liege and offices in the town hall of Anthisnes, where he is mayor.
Tarabella was “detained for questioning” and the judge overseeing the case will decide in the coming hours whether the Socialist MEP should appear before him, prosecutors said.
The Parliament last week voted to lift Tarabella’s immunity from prosecution, and that of Italian fellow MEP Andrea Cozzolino, following a request by Belgian investigators.
Both have insisted they are innocent and Tarabella has said he was looking forward to the chance to clear his name.
Belgium authorities already have three suspects in custody after launching raids on several addresses in December – including those of lawmakers, ex-lawmakers and parliamentary aides – that turned up EUR1.5 million.
Those detained, and charged with corruption, money laundering and criminal organisation, include a Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who was one of the Parliament’s 14 vice presidents but who has since been stripped of that position.
