BRUSSELS: Belgian police searched Huawei's offices and the home of the company's lobbyist on suspicion of bribery,document forgery, money laundering and setting up a criminal organization. Authorities suspect Huawei lobbyists of bribing MEPs in exchange for their support. About15 former and current MEPs are "under close scrutiny" by investigators.
Belgian police searched the Brussels headquarters of Chinese tech company Huawei and several other locations in a corruption probe amid fresh allegations involving European Parliament officials, with several arrests made in the case, according to authorities.
The lobbyists of the Chinese tech giant are being investigated over allegations of bribing MEPs to influence EU decision-making that is said to have benefited Huawei.
Meanwhile, a judge has requested that the European Parliament offices of two assistants allegedly involved in the case be sealed.
"As required by procedure, the president of the European Parliament has been informed of the situation. This procedure is continuing," the prosecutor's office said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
The information on the probe was first revealed by investigative website Follow the Money, together with two other Belgian newspapers, Le Soir and Knack.
Sources told the three outlets that around 15 current and former MEPs might be involved in the case.
Police are said to have searched dozens of homes Thursday morning in Brussels, Belgium's regions of Flanders and Wallonia, and Portugal as a part of a covert operation. They sought evidence of possible involvement in criminal activities, including bribery, forgery, money laundering and criminal organisation.
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