Athens freezes all assets of European Parliament vice president Eva Kaili

By AFP
Source: Pixabay
Key takeaways by Insider Paper
  • Greek authorities froze assets of MEP Eva Kaili and her relatives, including bank accounts, safes, companies and other financial assets.
  • Kaili was arrested and charged with corruption in Brussels over alleged graft linked to Qatar.
  • Belgian investigators found bags of cash in her home and detained her among four suspects.
  • She spoke publicly supporting Qatar's labour reforms while Belgian probe alleges huge bribes to influence EU policy.
  • Kaili lost vice president duties and representation roles, including representing parliament president in the Middle East.

Greek authorities froze assets of European Parliament vice president Eva Kaili on Monday, after the Greek MEP was arrested on corruption charges over her alleged involvement in a graft scandal linked to Qatar.

The measure, which also applies to her relatives, includes “bank accounts, safes, companies and other financial assets”, said the Greek anti-money laundering authority president Haralambos Vourliotis.

Greek banks and state services have already been informed of the decision, the authority said.

The 44-year-old former television presenter was charged with corruption on Sunday in Brussels.

Belgian police were investigating allegations that figures working on behalf of Qatar, the Gulf monarchy and World Cup host, have paid European politicians huge bribes to influence the Brussels policy debate.

Kaili, who has spoken publicly in support of Qatar’s recent labour reforms, was one of four suspects to have been charged and detained after Belgian investigators found “bags of cash” in her home.

She would normally benefit from immunity from criminal prosecution, but there is an exception in cases where a suspect is caught red-handed in the act of committing an alleged crime.

Kaili has been stripped of her responsibilities as a vice president of the parliament, notably that of representing parliament president Roberta Metsola in the Middle East.

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Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.
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