Ex-MEP arrested over allegations of bribery by Gulf state - BBC

A erstwhile subordinate of the European Parliament is among 4 radical who person been arrested successful an probe into suspected bribery by a Gulf state.

Prosecutors fishy the state tried to power parliament decisions with donations of wealth oregon gifts.

Cash worthy astir €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) was seized by Belgian constabulary successful searches of 16 Brussels locations.

Police person not named the state successful question, but unconfirmed section media reports person suggested it was Qatar.

It is accused of targeting aides astatine the parliament.

Investigators person suspected bribery for respective months, a spokesperson for the Belgian national authoritative said successful a statement.

"This is done truthful by paying ample sums of wealth oregon offering ample gifts to 3rd parties with a important governmental and/or strategical presumption wrong the European Parliament," the connection said.

Four people, calved successful 1955, 1969, 1971 and 1987, were arrested for questioning, including a erstwhile EU lawmaker, and whitethorn beryllium brought earlier the investigating judge, the authoritative said.

Computers and mobile phones were besides taken by constabulary successful bid to analyse their contents.

A spokesperson for the European Parliament told Reuters that it would not remark connected an ongoing investigation, but would enactment unneurotic with the section authorities if needed.

The time of the arrests, 9 December, is planetary anti-corruption day, designated by the UN and besides marked by the European Parliament.

Corruption costs the EU system betwixt €179bn and €990bn a year, representing up to 6% of EU GDP successful mislaid taxation gross and investment, according to a 2016 estimation cited successful a papers published by the European Parliament to people the day.