Belgian federal prosecutors have formally charged eight individuals in connection with a European Parliament bribery probe tied to Chinese tech giant Huawei. The charges include active corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization.
While five of the accused have been released—some under house arrest—three remain in custody.
Huawei Allegedly Funded Pro-Huawei Letter
The charges follow a major investigation that began in March, when prosecutors detained multiple suspects over allegations that Huawei made illicit payments to European lawmakers.
According to investigators, Huawei representatives or lobbyists may have provided bribes or gifts to members of parliament in exchange for support of the company’s interests in Europe’s 5G technology rollout. Authorities suspect that these payments were aimed at securing an open letter signed by eight European legislators that supported Huawei’s stance.
Raids Conducted Across Belgium and Portugal
Last month, police raided over 20 locations in Belgium and Portugal as part of the widening probe. Belgian prosecutors noted that the alleged offenses date back to 2021 and have continued through to the present day.
Aftermath of Qatargate Still Fresh
The investigation draws parallels to the 2022 “Qatargate” scandal, in which several EU lawmakers were accused of accepting bribes to promote the interests of Qatar and Morocco—allegations both countries deny.
