Brussels court orders review of investigation methods in Qatargate case
The methods used by the Belgian State Security Service (VSSE) in the Qatargate investigation will have to be reviewed, the Brussels indictment chamber ruled on Tuesday.
The defence teams of several suspects had requested a review because they believe a large part of the criminal file consists of data collected by the VSSE and not by investigators of the federal judicial police.
The federal prosecutor's office is conducting a major investigation into attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence decision-making in the European Parliament. Both countries allegedly tried to influence decisions in the European Parliament through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organisation, Fight Impunity.
Panzeri, his right-hand man Francesco Giorgi, his partner and vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, Brussels-Italian lobbyist Nicolo Figa-Talamanca, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino were named as suspects in the case.
Secret methods
However, according to the defence, a large part of the criminal file consists of data collected by the Belgian State Security Service. Since its methods are secret, it is impossible for the defence to verify how this data was obtained and how accurate it is.
In addition, the VSSE was late in informing the federal prosecutor's office of its information, and once the judicial investigation had begun, it continued to investigate itself instead of leaving it to the police investigators.
The investigation will be carried out by the Standing Intelligence Agencies Review Committee, also known as Comité-I, which supervises the work of the Belgian intelligence services.
© BELGA PHOTO
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