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Huawei named by Belgian authorities in brewing European Parliament bribery scandal

Case of alleged ‘active corruption’ plus ‘use of false documents’ carried out under the guise of commercial lobbying, prosecutors say

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Belgian media have named Huawei Technologies as one of the targets of a series of Belgian police raids. Photo: AP
Finbarr Berminghamin Brussels
More than 100 Belgian police officers raided premises implicated in a lobbying scandal in the European Parliament on Thursday morning, with federal prosecutors later in the day naming the company at the centre of the investigation as Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office said several individuals were arrested for questioning over an “active corruption” case in the parliament as well as for “forgery and use of false documents”.

“The corruption is said to have been practised regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day, under the guise of commercial lobbying and taking various forms, such as remuneration for taking political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses or regular invitations to football matches,” the office said in an update first thing on Thursday.

“The alleged bribery is said to have benefited Huawei,” the office announced later in the day.

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As the investigation developed, offices used by two parliamentary assistants were sealed off and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was notified.

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