A globetrotting Italian union boss-turned-politician has emerged as the kingpin in a sprawling international investigation into allegations that Qatar and Morocco sought to bribe EU legislators to influence policy and used a network of non-governmental organisations to hide the corrupt dealings.
Pier Antonio Panzeri, a Socialist member of the European parliament between 2004 and 2019, is one of four people charged with corruption, money laundering and being part of a criminal group after police seized €600,000 in cash at his residence in Brussels.
A separate suitcase with €600,000 in cash was found in the possession of the father of Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP also charged in the case. Kaili claims that the suitcase belonged to Panzeri, according to a person familiar with her case. Several hundred thousand more euros were found at Kaili’s home. In total, Belgian police say, almost €1.5mn in cash has been seized.