Eva Kaili refused bail and was 'tortured' in Brussels prison as deals were reached in Qatargate corruption case

January 20 - Former European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili (pictured) will remain in prison for at least a month after a court rejected her request for release with an electronic tag.

Kaili and her lawyers, meanwhile, say she faces inhumane conditions in prison.

Kaili is at the heart of Qatargate, a scandal that rocked the European Parliament with the host country of the 2022 World Cup allegedly bribing members of the European institution to shed a positive light on the country.
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The Greek's request to be released before the trial was however again rejected. Kaili is being held on preliminary charges of bribery, money laundering and involvement in a criminal organization, but maintains her innocence. Through her diapers, she denied the charges.

On the defensive, his lawyers claimed that Kaili risked "torture" in prison. In a statement, Michalis Dimitrakopolous said before the Brussels court: "From the afternoon of Wednesday January 11 to Friday January 13, Eva Kaili was placed in solitary confinement by decision of the investigating judge. She was detained for 16 hours in a police cell, not jail, in the cold, she was denied a second blanket, they took her coat, the light was constantly on not allowing her to sleep, she had her period with a lot of blood and was not allowed to wash.

"It's the Middle Ages, it's torture," said Dimitrakopolous.

His lawyers also said they were not told why Kaili was placed in solitary confinement. André Risopolous, his Brussels-based lawyer, explains: "For the moment, the defense has no other lead than to say that the judicial authorities considered that it was probably a good way to avoid [interference]. while Mr. Panzeri negotiated his own repentance process.”

Earlier this week, Pier Panzeri reached a plea deal with Belgian prosecutors. Panzeri reportedly agreed to release the names of those he admits to bribing. He will receive a limited sentence including imprisonment, a fine and the forfeiture of assets he acquired through the scheme, estimated at 1 million euros.

Contact the author of this story at moc.l1674313867labto1674313867ofdlr1674313867owedi1674313867sni@i1674313867tnuk.1674313867ardni1674313867mas1674313867

Sports Jan 21, 2023 0 60 Add to Reading List

January 20 - Former European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili (pictured) will remain in prison for at least a month after a court rejected her request for release with an electronic tag.

Kaili and her lawyers, meanwhile, say she faces inhumane conditions in prison.

Kaili is at the heart of Qatargate, a scandal that rocked the European Parliament with the host country of the 2022 World Cup allegedly bribing members of the European institution to shed a positive light on the country.

The Greek's request to be released before the trial was however again rejected. Kaili is being held on preliminary charges of bribery, money laundering and involvement in a criminal organization, but maintains her innocence. Through her diapers, she denied the charges.

On the defensive, his lawyers claimed that Kaili risked "torture" in prison. In a statement, Michalis Dimitrakopolous said before the Brussels court: "From the afternoon of Wednesday January 11 to Friday January 13, Eva Kaili was placed in solitary confinement by decision of the investigating judge. She was detained for 16 hours in a police cell, not jail, in the cold, she was denied a second blanket, they took her coat, the light was constantly on not allowing her to sleep, she had her period with a lot of blood and was not allowed to wash.

"It's the Middle Ages, it's torture," said Dimitrakopolous.

His lawyers also said they were not told why Kaili was placed in solitary confinement. André Risopolous, his Brussels-based lawyer, explains: "For the moment, the defense has no other lead than to say that the judicial authorities considered that it was probably a good way to avoid [interference]. while Mr. Panzeri negotiated his own repentance process.”

Earlier this week, Pier Panzeri reached a plea deal with Belgian prosecutors. Panzeri reportedly agreed to release the names of those he admits to bribing. He will receive a limited sentence including imprisonment, a fine and the forfeiture of assets he acquired through the scheme, estimated at 1 million euros.

Contact the author of this story at moc.l1674313867labto1674313867ofdlr1674313867owedi1674313867sni@i1674313867tnuk.1674313867ardni1674313867mas1674313867