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ROME — The Italian financial police arrested an accountant linked to two people embroiled in the European Parliament corruption probe.
The Guardia di Finanza arrested Monica Rossana Bellini on Tuesday in Milan after Belgian prosecutors issued a European arrest warrant, police confirmed.
In December, Belgian prosecutors detained and charged Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former member of the European Parliament, and his former assistant Francesco Giorgi, along with two others. They are in jail in Belgium facing preliminary charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal association. Panzeri’s nongovernmental organization, Fight Impunity, is also at the center of the so-called Qatargate allegations.
News emerged Tuesday that Panzeri cut a plea deal with Belgian authorities to exchange information for milder punishment. His lawyer said Panzeri acknowledged being a leader of, and participant in, a criminal organization.
A person informed of the investigation said Bellini was accused of criminal association, money laundering and corruption.
Bellini’s offices were raided following the arrest of Panzeri and Giorgi in December, with police staying for six hours and taking away large quantities of documents. She said at the time that she had nothing to hide and never worked for Panzeri — but only for his daughter Silvia, who was later also arrested, along with her mother, and is facing charges of corruption and money laundering. An Italian court recently ruled that Silvia Panzeri may be extradited to Belgium.
Bellini, 55, runs her own firm in Milan and has worked for numerous public entities. She could now face extradition proceedings.
A representative of her firm refused to comment when reached by phone. Bellini did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Source: Politico
