Belgian investigators had Greek Euro MP Eva Kaili under surveillance within the European Parliament and without the Parliament’s knowledge, her lawyers are alleging.
Kaili, a former Parliament vice president arrested in December for allegedly taking bribes, was spied upon in the assembly before investigators had enough evidence to arrest her, according to a Belgian media report.
If confirmed by the Parliament, these details would be enough to invalidate Kaili’s arrest, it is claimed.
“In the coming days, we will appeal to the European Parliament to establish the violation of my client’s parliamentary immunity,” Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, one of Kaili’s lawyers, told Greek TV show Kalimera, according to a report in La Capitale.
Kaili, who denies all charges “was being watched inside the European Parliament long before the story of the suitcase [full of cash, found at her father’s apartment]” Dimitrakopoulos said. “This is unacceptable. There is evidence that she was being watched before her immunity was lifted. This creates a huge legal problem”.
This and other comments from her legal team suggest Kaili will attempt to have the courts declare the arrest illegal, meaning investigations would have to go back to square one. “The Parliament did not know that Ms. Kaili was being watched. If [the Parliament] admits it, all acts of investigation must be cancelled,” Dimitrakopoulos said.
Kaili, who investigators say manipulated parliamentary work on behalf of non-EU states including Qatar, has been released from prison pending trial though must wear a tagging device. She is seeking to have this device removed, and wants to return to work.
Her bail conditions stipulate that she may not live or communicate with the father of her child, who is reported to have cooperated with investigators.
