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Post: Two sources: Belgium rejects Italy’s request to extradite suspects in European Parliament bribery scandal

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Belgium is no longer willing to hand over two women suspected of a bribery and corruption scandal to Italy in exchange for influencing decisions in the European Parliament, two well-informed sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The scandal, the biggest to rock the EU in decades, is based on suspicions that Qatar and Morocco bribed politicians, parliamentary advisers and NGOs to influence EU Council decisions. Qatar has denied any involvement in the matter, while Morocco has likened the investigation to “judicial harassment”.

Maria Dolores Colleoni and Silvia Panzer remain under house arrest in northern Italy. The first is the wife of Pierre Antonio Panziri, and the second is his daughter Antonio Panziri, a former member of the European Union who Brussels prosecutors believe is one of the main accomplices in the alleged corruption.

Two sources said Belgian judicial authorities sent the two women’s defense teams a document in French saying their extradition request comes with the condition that they agree to come to Belgium for questioning when requested.

Source: EuroNews

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