Qatargate: Former anti-corruption chief charged with breaching professional secrecy
The former head of the Belgian Central Office for the Repression of Corruption (OCRC), Hugues Tasiaux, was charged with breaching professional secrecy on Friday, according to a La Libre report.
On 6 February, the General Inspectorate of the police and a Brussels investigating judge searched Tasiaux's home and the OCRC, which is a federal police unit. Tasiaux was taken into custody by the federal police for questioning but was subsequently released.
The searches were carried out in response to a complaint filed by former MEP Marie Arena and her son Ugo Lemaire for “breach of professional secrecy”.
Leaks
Arena's name emerged in the Qatargate investigation, a major probe into attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence decision-making within the European Parliament. In July 2023, her home was searched and it later emerged that the police had found 280,000 euros in cash at her son's residence.
According to La Libre, the ongoing investigation concerns not only leaks in the Qatargate case, but also other cases
In early 2024, Arena was questioned but not immediately charged. In an interview with La Libre at the start of this year, Arena said that she had been charged with being a member of a criminal organisation, but not with corruption or money laundering.
On Thursday, the public prosecutor's office confirmed the charges against Tasiaux. According to La Libre, the ongoing investigation concerns not only leaks in the Qatargate case, but also other cases. Tasiaux was the interim head of the OCRC for eight years. He was replaced last spring by Jurgen Van den Eynde.
© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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