BRUSSELS -
Former MEP Antonio Panzeri and the current secretary general of the international organization of trade unions Ituc Luca Visentini are among those arrested today in Brussels
by the police as part of an investigation into suspected corruption.
This was announced by the French-speaking newspaper Le Soir.
According to the information gathered by the investigators, it is suspected that a Gulf country has attempted to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament.
According to Le Soir, the country in question is Qatar, where the World Cup is taking place.
The Belgian federal court confirmed the arrest of four people, including Panzeri and Visentini, under the presumption of their innocence.
Those arrested - writes the Belgian newspaper - are available to the investigating judge who in the next 48 hours could decide to issue any arrest warrants.
As part of the action launched this morning, the police also carried out 14 searches.
In Brussels, at Panzeri's house, according to what 'Le Soir' writes, the investigators found five hundred thousand euros in cash
.
All those arrested are of Italian nationality or origin.
Among them also the director of an NGO and a parliamentary assistant.