Former MEP Antonio Panzeri, in his statements to prosecutors in Brussels Michael Claise and Raphael Malagnini as part of the Qatargate investigation, mentioned the name of Forza Italia MEP Lara Comi, recounting having seen and thrown away one of her bags with 60-70 thousand euros in cash.
Repubblica, Le Soir and Knack talk about it, reporting documents from the investigation.
"In 2019 Comi called me asking for a favour, if I could collect a bag from her apartment in Brussels and put it aside," Panzeri said, stating that he had asked his assistant Giuseppe Meroni to collect the bag.
When Comi was arrested in the 'Mensa dei Povera' investigation, she added, "I went to Meroni and we opened the bag. I saw clothes and empty books inside,
with cash between 60 and 70 thousand euros, I didn't count them.
So I took it all, decided to throw the money away in the trash.
Meroni saw the money but didn't take anything". Panzeri said he spoke about it with Comi. "I just told her that the money was gone". "On the stock exchange, I told her that the case is closed and not he asked me more.
I don't know where the money in this bag comes from."
"There was a meeting in Doha, in the spring of 2019, with Minister Al Marri, Francesco Giorgi, the Algerian (Boudjellal, ed ) and I, Andrea Cozzolino, Lara Comi - declared Panzeri on 13 February according to reports the three newspapers - I think Eva Kaili was present, but the decision made, in terms of money for the deputies, also included her. At the end, the Qataris decided to make 250,000 euros each available for the electoral campaigns of the three . And it was done".
Panzeri was unable to say whether the money in the Comi stock exchange was part of the 250,000 euro deal with Qatar.
Comi's lawyer, Gian Piero Biancolella, stated that "Comi has never accepted illicit funding for the 2019 campaign".
"It is important to deny the idea that I am the big boss - Panzeri said -. These people accepted money in exchange for protecting Qatar's interests as part of their parliamentary work. It was established that Giorgi would assume the role of Cozzolino's assistant. The money arrived at his house, one million and 250 thousand euros in cash.
There was also 250 thousand euros for me and for him".