Greek former MEP Eva Kaili has blamed Italian former MEP Antonio Panzeri for the huge quantities of cash found in her home after they were both arrested this month in Belgium in relation to the so-called Qatargate scandal, according to her lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos.
Panzeri and Kaili have been charged with corruption for involvement in alleged efforts by Qatar and perhaps other countries to condition EU affairs via bribery.
A total of around 1.5 million euros in cash has been seized by Belgian prosecutors from the homes of Kaili and Panzeri and from a suitcase in the possession of Kaili's father Kaili was removed from her position as European Parliament vice president after the scandal exploded.
Two other Italians, Francesco Giorgi, an assistant to Democratic Party (PD) MEP Andrea Cozzolino and Kaili's partner, and Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, the secretary general of the No Peace Without Justice NGO, have also been charged in relation to the case.
Dimitrakopoulos denied media reports that Kaili, who has been in jail since December 9, had confessed to prosecutors to telling her father to hide packs of banknotes and to being aware of alleged illegal conduct by Giorgi.
"Ms Kaili never admitted to asking her father to move the money (found in her house) to hide it," Dimitrakopoulos said.
"Ms Kaili found out about this money at the last minute and asked for it to be returned immediately to its owner, Mr Panzeri".
Brescia court on Tuesday postponed a decision on whether to approve a request by Belgian prosecutors for the extradition of Panzeri's daughter Silvia in relation to the scandal.
The court upheld a defence petition for the conditions of Belgian jails to be assessed before considering the request and adjourned proceedings until January 3.
A similar petition presented by Panzeri's wife, Maria Dolores Colleoni, was rejected on Monday and the request for her extradition approved.
The court said that there was "serious evidence of guilt" against Colleoni.
Reports in the Belgian media said Panzeri had admitted involvement and said he had alleged that Belgian MEP and fellow Socialist Marc Tarabella had benefited from 'gifts' from Qatar.
