(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 2 - A plenary session of the
European Parliament waived the immunity of MEPs Marc Tarabella
and Andrea Cozzolino who are accused by investigators of being
involved in the so-called Qatargate bribery scandal. Belgian MEP
Tarabella was present in Parliament.
The vote to lift the immunity of both lawmakers was held by
show of hands. Tarabella, as recently announced, voted in favour
of waiving the guarantees that prevent the judiciary of a member
state from detaining a member of the European Parliament.
The ball is now in the Belgian judiciary's court: the two
MEPs, without immunity, could be detained, if requested by
prosecutor Michel Claise. Documents examined by the European
Parliament's justice committee allegedly show that the lawmakers
are in a different situation, well-informed sources said. Former
MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his assistant Francesco Giorgi told
investigators that Tarabella received money, while such
allegations were not made against Italian MEP Cozzolino.
(ANSAmed).
Qatargate: EP waives immunity of MEPs Tarabella, Cozzolino
Lawmakers suspected of involvement in corruption scandal