Belgium charges three more people in Qatargate scandal

Belgian prosecutors have charged three additional individuals in connection with the Qatargate bribery scandal that has shaken the European Parliament, AFP reports. The indictments, confirmed during a closed-door hearing in Brussels this week, bring the total number of people charged to approximately 15, according to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir. 

The scandal erupted in December 2022, following police raids that uncovered €1.5 million in cash at the homes of Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former Italian MEP. Both have been accused of accepting payments to promote the interests of Qatar and Morocco. 

The three newly charged men, former aides linked to the Socialists and Democrats parliamentary group, are alleged to have accepted cash, luxury hotel stays in Morocco, and invitations to Qatar, including a football match at the 2022 World Cup. Belgian prosecutors declined to comment on the latest developments.