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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 3 January 2023

EU Parliament starts process to lift 2 lawmakers’ immunity

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN launched raids on premises
Associated Press across Brussels last month
BRUSSELS (AP) — The presi- and large sums of cash
dent of the European Par- were reportedly found at
liament has launched an her home.
urgent procedure to waive Kaili and Giorgi are sus-
the immunity of two law- pected of working with
makers following a request Giorgi’s one-time boss, Pier
from Belgian judicial au- Antonio Panzeri, a former
thorities investigating a ma- EU lawmaker. According
jor corruption scandal rock- to arrest warrants, Panzeri
ing EU politics. “is suspected of intervening
The European Parliament politically with members
said Monday that President working at the European
Roberta Metsola asked all European Parliament President Roberta Metsola speaks with the Parliament for the benefit
services and committees to media as she arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, on Dec. 15, of Qatar and Morocco,
give the procedure priority, 2022. against payment.”
with the goal to have it fin- Associated Press The Parliament has halted
ished by Feb. 13. for comments. been charged in relation work on files involving Qa-
“From the very first moment Tarabella, whose home with the scandal, which al- tar as it investigates what
the European Parliament was raided last month, and legedly involves Qatari and impact the cash-and-gifts-
has done everything in its Cozzolino have denied Moroccan officials suspect- for-influence bribery scan-
power to assist in investiga- wrongdoing and self-sus- ed of influencing econom- dal might have had. Qatar
tions and we will continue pended their membership ic and political decisions vehemently denies involve-
to make sure that there will of the Parliament’s Social- with gifts and money. ment and Morocco has yet
be no impunity,” Metsola ists and Democrats group Prosecutors accuse Kaili of to respond to allegations
said. “Those responsible will (S&D). Cozzolino had previ- corruption, membership in that its ambassador to Po-
find this Parliament on the ously said he was ready to a criminal organization and land might have been in-
side of the law. Corruption abandon his parliamentary money laundering. A Greek volved.
cannot pay and we will do immunity so that he would socialist MEP, Kaili has been Belgian prosecutors are
everything to fight it.” be able to answer ques- in custody since Dec. 9. Her also seeking the hando-
The EU Parliament press tions from authorities. partner, Francesco Giorgi, ver of Panzeri’s wife and
service did not identify the “When it comes to the re- an adviser at the European daughter from Italy, where
two MEPs. According to quest to lift their immunity Parliament, is jailed on the they were put under house
two people familiar with the S&D group would fol- same charges. arrest on similar charges.
the case who were not al- low, in the context of the Kaili was relieved of her A fourth suspect in Bel-
lowed to speak publicly European Parliament, the duties of parliament gium — Niccolo Figa-Tala-
because the investigation procedures foreseen in a Vice-President after be- manca, secretary-general
is ongoing, they are Italian responsible and construc- ing charged. She would of the non-governmental
Andrea Cozzolino and Bel- tive manner,” the Socialists have normally enjoyed im- organization No Peace
gian Marc Tarabella. and Democrats said. munity from prosecution Without Justice — was also
The two did not immediate- A third member of Parlia- but was brought before a charged and jailed over
ly respond to queries asking ment, Eva Kaili, has already judge after Belgian police the affair.q

Gang leader freed in

Mexico prison attack

that killed 17

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- tories. Rodríguez identified
can authorities on Monday the inmates who escaped
raised the death toll from as being with the Mexicles
an attack on a state prison gang, which she associat-
in Ciudad Juarez across the ed with the Caborca Car-
border from El Paso, Texas tel. She said the Mexicles'
to 17, a brazen operation leader was among the fu-
that appeared designed gitives. The Mexicles have
to free the leader of a local been one of Juarez's main Mexican National Guard stand guard outside a state prison in
gang. gangs for decades and for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Sunday Jan 1, 2023. Associated Press
Twenty-five inmates es- many years were known to
caped in the attack. work with the Sinaloa Car- the prison found 10 "VIP" Sandoval said two other
Security Secretary Rosa tel. The Caborca Cartel cells outfitted with televi- gunmen killed after attack-
Icela Rodríguez said 10 had been led by drug lord sions and other comforts. ing local police a short time
of the dead were prison Rafael Caro Quintero who One even had a safe filled before the attack on the
guards who were attacked was recaptured in July. with cash. prison were likely a diver-
by gunmen who arrived Defense Secretary Luis Authorities also found co- sion. They were not includ-
early Sunday in armored Cresencio Sandoval said caine, methamphetamine, ed in the 17 dead, which
vehicles and fired on the the soldiers and state po- heroin, fentanyl and mari- were made up of 10 guards
entrance and inside dormi- lice who retook control of juana inside the prison. and seven inmates. q