A second member of the European parliament has been charged with corruption and one other arrested as Belgian prosecutors continued their investigation into the “Qatargate” scandal.

Marc Tarabella, a Belgian socialist, was remanded in custody on Saturday after being charged with corruption, cash laundering and participation in a felony organisation. He was arrested on Friday, simply eight days after parliament lifted his immunity from prosecution.

He denies the cost.

Andrea Cozzolino, an Italian socialist, was arrested at a Naples hospital on Friday evening, in line with his lawyer. The Belgian federal prosecutor’s workplace confirmed the arrest and mentioned it was looking for his switch to Belgium.

Belgian authorities declare that they and others took bribes to form EU policymaking from Qatar and Morocco.

Cozzolino’s lawyer Dimitri De Beco mentioned his shopper was present process remedy for a coronary heart downside. “Our shopper is against his switch to Belgium. We instantly sought and obtained his launch. The Naples attraction court docket confirmed as we speak that there was no motive to deprive our shopper of his liberty in these situations.”

“M Cozzolino has returned residence, the place he’ll proceed to train his rights in opposition to these unjustified accusations.”

The Belgian prosecutor mentioned it couldn’t affirm his launch however was nonetheless asking for his return to Brussels.

Tarabella is the sixth particular person to be charged with the identical three offences.

Eva Kaili, a Greek socialist MEP who was vice-president of the parliament, stays in detention. So does Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former MEP who ran a human rights charity and Francesco Giorgi, his former assistant and Kaili’s associate. Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, secretary-general of one other human rights group, was launched on bail on February 4.

Panzeri’s accountant, Monica Rossana Bellini, was arrested in Milan final month and is awaiting switch to Belgium.

Panzeri, believed to be the pinnacle of the group, has struck a plea discount and admitted working for overseas nations, the federal prosecutor has mentioned. Giorgi has made a partial confession, in line with paperwork seen by the Monetary Instances, whereas Figà-Talamanca, Kaili and Bellini deny wrongdoing.

Figà-Talamanca, secretary-general of No Peace With out Justice, launched a press release on Saturday saying he was grateful to be launched from jail and would proceed his combat for human rights.

“I’ve labored all my life side-by-side with individuals unjustly detained and I really feel I’ve had a small style of what a few of them have endured for years,” he mentioned. He thanked supporters who believed in his innocence.

Panzeri’s spouse and daughter are beneath home arrest in Italy.

Police say they discovered €1.5mn in money on the properties of Panzeri and Kaili and in a suitcase within the possession of Kaili’s father.

In addition they searched a safe-deposit field utilized by Tarabella at a financial institution in Liège and a number of other workplaces within the city corridor at Anthisnes, in southern Belgium, the place Tarabella is mayor, on Friday. Belgian authorities mentioned they believed he had been paid illegally between €120,000 and €140,000 by third nations.

Qatar’s alleged motivation was to blunt resolutions condemning its remedy of migrant employees forward of the World Cup and safe visa-free journey for its residents. The Qatari authorities has denied the accusations.

Morocco allegedly sought help for its declare to sovereignty over the Western Sahara, and offers with the EU over fishing and agricultural product commerce. The Moroccan authorities denied any wrongdoing.