Belgian judicial police raid Huawei lobbyists accused of corruption
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On the morning of Thursday, March 13th, the Belgian judicial police, under order of investigating judge and federal prosecutor's office, carried out widespread searches in Brussels, Wallonia, Flanders, and Portugal, targeting lobbyists linked to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications company. They are suspected of having bribed around 15 individuals, including current and former Members of the European Parliament.
The Federal Prosecutor's Hypotheses
The federal prosecutor's office suspects not only corruption but also document forgery and use of false documents, money laundering, and criminal organization. The so-called "Generation Operation" targeted Huawei's director of public affairs at the European Union, Italo-Belgian Valerio Ottati, who had previously been a parliamentary assistant for ten years. However, an anonymous source told the investigative platform Follow The Money that Ottati was hired for his connections rather than technical expertise.
Huawei Lobbyists
Ottati met with many Members of the European Parliament and could invite people to events, which, according to the federal prosecutor's office, were only the harmless side of lobbying activities. Meanwhile, valuable items such as Huawei phones, tickets to football matches—at Huawei's private box at Lotto Park—or even transfers of several thousand euros were given. In fact, the European Parliament’s code of conduct stipulates that any gift received from third parties—if worth more than 150 euros—must not only be declared but also registered in the public gifts register.
In conjunction with the arrest of some lobbyists linked to Huawei, the press service of the European Parliament stated that the Parliament acknowledges the information and is willing to cooperate with judicial authorities, whenever and if necessary.
The Federal Prosecutor's Hypotheses
The federal prosecutor's office suspects not only corruption but also document forgery and use of false documents, money laundering, and criminal organization. The so-called "Generation Operation" targeted Huawei's director of public affairs at the European Union, Italo-Belgian Valerio Ottati, who had previously been a parliamentary assistant for ten years. However, an anonymous source told the investigative platform Follow The Money that Ottati was hired for his connections rather than technical expertise.
Huawei Lobbyists
Ottati met with many Members of the European Parliament and could invite people to events, which, according to the federal prosecutor's office, were only the harmless side of lobbying activities. Meanwhile, valuable items such as Huawei phones, tickets to football matches—at Huawei's private box at Lotto Park—or even transfers of several thousand euros were given. In fact, the European Parliament’s code of conduct stipulates that any gift received from third parties—if worth more than 150 euros—must not only be declared but also registered in the public gifts register.
In conjunction with the arrest of some lobbyists linked to Huawei, the press service of the European Parliament stated that the Parliament acknowledges the information and is willing to cooperate with judicial authorities, whenever and if necessary.