An investigator into the so-called Qatargate corruption scandal was secretly recorded saying that he believes former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, a key suspect turned informant, is lying to them.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office has for more than a year been investigating attempts by Qatar, Morocco and Mauritania to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament through resolutions promoted by Panzeri and other MEPs through the fake non-profit organisation Fight Impunity.
After being arrested Panzeri agreed to collaborate with the Belgian authorities in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
In his interrogations, the Italian MEP allegedly admitted that Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella was to receive a total of €250,000 by the end of the legislature in 2024. Tarabella has been under house arrest since April 2023. However, one of the Federal Police officers in charge of Qatargate has now been recorded saying that the authorities believe that Panzeri is lying.
'Pulling our leg'
"Panzeri is lying, we know that. And we are going to take the necessary steps so that he loses his status in this plea deal." This was one of the remarkable phrases uttered recorded by Francesco Giorgi, a main suspect in the case, and a police officer who was unaware that he was being recorded, reported De Standaard.
Francesco Giorgi, partner of Eva Kaili is seen at the new Haren Prison, in Brussels, Friday 14 April 2023. Credit: Belga / Jonas Roosens
The conversation took place after detectives searched Giorgi's flat several days earlier and seized written notes he had made to his lawyer about the case.
During the conversation, Giorgi opposed the house search, believing the investigators had no right to seize the confidential correspondence. He also complained that the investigators appeared to take Panzeri's word for it, at which point the remarkable statements were made.
"Don't believe that, just because he talks, that we believe him. We don't believe anything he says. We know very well that he is pulling our leg," the police officer said. Giorgi and his lawyer Pierre Monville now want to use the conversation in proceedings before the Brussels Chamber of Indictments.
Eric Van Duyse, the spokesperson for the Federal Prosecutor's Office, confirmed that it has taken note of the statements attributed to a police officer during a conversation he "allegedly had with a person under indictment".
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"The Federal Public Prosecutor wishes to emphasise that one of the purposes of an investigation is to check the veracity of the statements made by a person under suspicion and their compliance with the requirements of the law," Van Duyse noted in a statement.
He added that proceedings are still pending before the Brussels Chamber of Indictments, which is examining the legality of several investigative acts. "The conclusions arising from the judgment will of course be taken into account in the course of further investigation." Van Duyse concluded that the office will reserve its response for the indictment chamber, which is due to rule on the whole dossier on 14 May.
