‘Huawei lobbyists’ held in raids in Belgium over EU corruption

The Belgian police raided several areas of the country as part of the investigation into corruption in the European Parliament.

The prosecution said that the charges of corruption were accused of “under the appearance of a commercial lobby,” and some people were detained for interrogation.

According to officials, Portugal’s address was searched by local police for the case.

The Belgian newspaper Le SOIR said the survey has been related to the activities in the Chinese technology giant Huawei and Brussels since 2021. The BBC approached Huawei and commented.

The prosecution said, “Corruption has been practiced regularly and very carefully from 2021 to today, and it is estimated that it has taken various forms such as compensation for political positions such as commercial lobbies and food and travel expenses or regular invitations on soccer markets.”

Le SOIR reported that some suspected lobbyists working in Huawei were detained for bribery of the current or former European Parliament (MEP) to encourage the company’s trade policy.

A police source said that there was no MEP arrested on Thursday in the AFP news agency.

The prosecutor’s office said a total of 21 attacks in Brussels, Flemish and Wallo Nia said.

The survey focuses on “forgery and use of forgery documents” within the framework of “criminal organization” as well as “active corruption in the European parliament,” and the prosecution also wants to find possible money.