A spokesman for prosecutors told POLITICO that a Belgian judge has allowed the release of one of four detainees in the European Parliament corruption investigation, known as KatarGate.
Niccolò Figa-Talamanca – the secretary general of No Peace Without Justice, one of the NGOs linked to the corruption scandal that has engulfed the European Parliament – has been freed. It’s unclear whether there are conditions attached to the release, with the spokesperson unable to comment on that.
Figà-Talamanca was initially released with an electronic monitor. But after the Belgian prosecutor appealed the order, the Belgian Chamber of Prosecution reversed the earlier order in late December, keeping Figà-Talamanca in prison.
Why a judge has now ordered his release is unclear. By the time of publication, Figà-Talamanca’s attorney had not responded to a request for comment.
Currently, only former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, former European Parliament Vice President Eva Cali and his partner Francesco Giorgi are still in prison. In January, Panjeri plea deal in exchange for naming the bribe-givers with the Belgian authorities.
The decision comes a day after the European Parliament immunity waived Two more MEPs, Belgian Marc Tarabella and Italian Andrea Cozzolino, paved the way for investigators to call in for questioning or arrest them.
A spokesman for the prosecutor could not comment on possible impending action against the two.