>In late July, the home of Belgian MEP Marie Arena (PS) was searched. The search was part of the ‘Qatargate’ case, or investigation into suspected corruption within the European Parliament. The investigators also visited Arena’s son, 32-year-old Ugo Lemaire, on the same day. In his flat, police recovered more than 280,000 euros in cash, ‘Le Soir’ now reveals.
>
>”I am convinced that the investigation will show that I am in no way involved in this case,” Arena (56) shared through her lawyer on 19 July – the day of the search. According to ‘Le Soir’, police also visited Arena’s son Ugo Lemaire (32), who lives in Brussels in a flat next to his mother’s, on that Wednesday.
>
>***‘Qatargate’***
>
>*For several months, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has been conducting a major investigation into attempts by the Gulf state of Qatar and Morocco to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament. Both countries allegedly tried to influence Parliament’s decisions and resolutions through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organisation.*
>
>*Not only Panzeri was under suspicion in the case, but also his right-hand man Francesco Giorgi, his partner and Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, Brussels-Italian lobbyist Nicolo Figa-Talamanca, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, and Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino.*
>
>**Pile of banknotes**
>
>Arena was present in the flat during the search, but her son was not. Investigators found a stack of banknotes there with a total value of more than 280,000 euros. The origin of the money, which was seized, is not yet known. So for now, it is not known whether there is a link to the Qatargate. Investigators will now analyse the fingerprints and DNA traces on the notes.
>
>In November 2018, Ugo Lemaire, together with five others – including the son of investigating judge Michel Claise – founded ‘BRC & Co’, a private company active in the sale of CBD. When it came to light in late June that Claise’s son was one of Lemaire’s business partners, the investigating judge withdrew from the corruption case. The Qatargate case was then taken over by investigating judge Aurélie Dejaiffe.
>
>**Trip to Qatar**
>
>Marie Arena has so far not been charged or questioned in the Qatargate investigation. She thus continues to work as an MEP as usual. However, she did resign as chair of the human rights subcommittee, a post she had taken over from Panzeri. Arena resigned after news site ‘Politico’ revealed that she had not declared a subsidised trip to Qatar, which should have been done according to European Parliament rules.
>
>Neither Arena nor Lemaire have responded to the seizure of the large sum of money for now.
these days you can’t have duffle bag full of cash without people getting suspicious. sad.
2 comments
**Translation of the article:**
>In late July, the home of Belgian MEP Marie Arena (PS) was searched. The search was part of the ‘Qatargate’ case, or investigation into suspected corruption within the European Parliament. The investigators also visited Arena’s son, 32-year-old Ugo Lemaire, on the same day. In his flat, police recovered more than 280,000 euros in cash, ‘Le Soir’ now reveals.
>
>”I am convinced that the investigation will show that I am in no way involved in this case,” Arena (56) shared through her lawyer on 19 July – the day of the search. According to ‘Le Soir’, police also visited Arena’s son Ugo Lemaire (32), who lives in Brussels in a flat next to his mother’s, on that Wednesday.
>
>***‘Qatargate’***
>
>*For several months, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has been conducting a major investigation into attempts by the Gulf state of Qatar and Morocco to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament. Both countries allegedly tried to influence Parliament’s decisions and resolutions through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organisation.*
>
>*Not only Panzeri was under suspicion in the case, but also his right-hand man Francesco Giorgi, his partner and Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, Brussels-Italian lobbyist Nicolo Figa-Talamanca, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, and Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino.*
>
>**Pile of banknotes**
>
>Arena was present in the flat during the search, but her son was not. Investigators found a stack of banknotes there with a total value of more than 280,000 euros. The origin of the money, which was seized, is not yet known. So for now, it is not known whether there is a link to the Qatargate. Investigators will now analyse the fingerprints and DNA traces on the notes.
>
>In November 2018, Ugo Lemaire, together with five others – including the son of investigating judge Michel Claise – founded ‘BRC & Co’, a private company active in the sale of CBD. When it came to light in late June that Claise’s son was one of Lemaire’s business partners, the investigating judge withdrew from the corruption case. The Qatargate case was then taken over by investigating judge Aurélie Dejaiffe.
>
>**Trip to Qatar**
>
>Marie Arena has so far not been charged or questioned in the Qatargate investigation. She thus continues to work as an MEP as usual. However, she did resign as chair of the human rights subcommittee, a post she had taken over from Panzeri. Arena resigned after news site ‘Politico’ revealed that she had not declared a subsidised trip to Qatar, which should have been done according to European Parliament rules.
>
>Neither Arena nor Lemaire have responded to the seizure of the large sum of money for now.
these days you can’t have duffle bag full of cash without people getting suspicious. sad.