Huawei Bribery Scandal: EU Parliament Aide Busted in Italy for Alleged Corruption
European Parliament Aide Detained in Italy
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An aide to an Italian MEP is currently in hot water, hauled in by Italian authorities for suspected bribery tied to the Chinese tech titan, Huawei. The culprit in question is Lucia Simeone, an assistant to Fulvio Martusciello—an Italian MEP—who was nabbed in Naples last Wednesday evening according to AFP news sources. She's been held in a Naples detention center since then.
The arrest warrant, issued by Belgian authorities, accuses her of corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. It's speculated that this bust is linked to recent corruption claims against Huawei in Brussels, police disclosed. A date for Simeone's extradition to Belgium has yet to be set.
Just last week, Belgium's federal prosecutor's office acknowledged suspicions of bribery favoring Huawei. Lobbyists believed to work for the Chinese telecoms bigwig are accused of offering bribes to EU parliamentarians or their assistants since early 2021, by way of money or gifts. The European Parliament has vowed to cooperate fully with the investigation and has temporarily barred Huawei lobbyists from their Brussels and Strasbourg buildings.
Four individuals are currently in Belgian custody, charged with corruption and organized crime. A fifth person, found not to be immediately suspect, is being probed for money laundering.
Officials have been conducting raids in European Parliament offices in Strasbourg and Brussels recently, including those assigned to Martusciello's team. French media suggest that as many as 15 EU MEPs could potentially be embroiled in this scandal, with allegations of accepting generous gifts such as football tickets or invites to sporting events.
The ongoing investigation casts a shadow on the European Parliament, following previous corruption scandals like Qatargate[2][4][5]. If any MEPs are implicated, Belgian authorities would have to request the European Parliament waive their immunity before instigating legal action[5].
[1] deutsche Welle[2] Le Monde[3] Reuters[4] Euractiv[5] Politico
Additional Insights:
- The main suspect in the probe is Valerio Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist who serves as Huawei's EU public affairs director[1].
- The investigation deals with various forms of alleged bribery, including expensive gifts such as football match invites and trips to China, along with cash payments[4].
- While the identities of the EU MEPs under investigation have not been publicly revealed, around 15 current and former MEPs are being scrutinized for suspected involvement in the scandal[2][4][5].
- The EU Parliament aide arrested in Italy, Lucia Simeone, is believed to be involved in a bribery scandal potentially linked to Huawei, as she is an assistant to Italian MEP Fulvio Martusciello.
- Vocational training could be a viable solution for Lucia Simeone, should she face legal repercussions due to her alleged involvement in the Huawei bribery scandal, as it may provide her with new skills and opportunities for reentry in the workforce.
- Despite Huawei being at the center of a major bribery scandal involving the European Parliament, the Chinese tech company continues to engage in vocational training initiatives, such as providing training to underserved communities, as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.
