Belgian police have stormed several locations around the country as part of an investigation into corruption within the European Parliament.
Prosecutors said the suspicious corruption was “shaming of commercial lobbying” and that several people were detained for questioning.
Officials say that the Portuguese speech was also searched by local police in connection with the incident.
Belgian newspaper Le Soir said the survey has been linked to activities in Brussels since 2021 with Chinese tech giant Huawei. The BBC approached Huawei for comment.
“It is said that corruption was practiced very carefully from 2021 to the present, in the guise of taking a variety of forms, including political status compensation, excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses, and regular invitations to soccer games,” the prosecutor explained.
Le Soir reported that several people suspected of being lobbyists working for Huawei have been detained on alleged bribery of current or former lawmakers (MEPs) in order to promote the company’s trade policy.
A police source told AFP news agency that among those arrested Thursday there were no MEPs.
The prosecutor’s office told the newspaper that a total of 21 attacks were carried out in Brussels, Flanders and Wolonia.
The investigation focuses on “active corruption within the European Parliament” and “forgery and use of forged documents,” all within the framework of a “criminal organisation,” the prosecutor’s office said, adding that it is also trying to clarify the possibility of money laundering.
