A Naples court on Tuesday upheld a
petition by lawyers representing Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino to
put off a hearing on a request for his extradition to Belgium
over his alleged involvement in the so-called Qatargate bribery
scandal.
The court adjourned proceedings until February 28 to give time
for a check on the Belgian prison Cozzolino would go to.
Cozzolino is under house arrest in Naples after the European
Parliament waived his immunity and that of Belgian MEPs Marc
Tarabella over the case of alleged attempts by Qatar and Morocco
to influence EU affairs via bribery.
Cozzolino, who has been suspended by Italy's centre-left
Democratic Party (PD) and suspended himself from the Socialist
(S&D) caucus in the European Parliament, denies any wrongdoing.
Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who was removed from her position as
European Parliament vice president after the scandal exploded
and has been in jail since December 9, has been charged too in
relation to the case, along with her Italian partner Francesco
Giorgi, Cozzolino's assistant.
Former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri, a central figure in the
'Qatargate' corruption scandal, has started to cooperating with
Belgian prosecutors after reaching a plea bargain for a one-year
jail term.
Another Italian under investigation over the case, Niccolo'
Figa'-Talamanca, the secretary general of the No Peace Without
Justice NGO, has been released from prison.
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