Belgian police have raided Huawei’s headquarters in Brussels and 20 other locations in Belgium and Portugal, leading to several arrests amid an investigation into corruption and money laundering related to the European Parliament. Authorities suspect that lobbyists for Huawei bribed MEPs to influence EU decision-making in the company’s favor. Key suspect Valerio Ottati, Huawei’s Director of EU Public Affairs, was identified as having connections rather than expertise in technology. The European Commission expressed concerns over Huawei’s risks to EU 5G networks but declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Authorities in Belgium conducted a search at the Huawei headquarters located in Brussels. In addition to this, 20 other locations across the Belgian regions of Flanders and Wallonia, as well as sites in Portugal, were also raided, leading to multiple arrests as reported by prosecutors.
A spokesperson from the Belgian Prosecutor’s Office mentioned that there is “an ongoing investigation into initial charges of active corruption, document forgery, and money laundering relating to the European Parliament.” It is believed that the “alleged bribery” may have provided benefits to the technology firm Huawei.
European Parliament in Strasbourg, France
This investigation involves lobbyists for the Chinese tech corporation allegedly bribing members of the European Parliament to sway EU decision-making in favor of Huawei. During the operation, a judge ordered the sealing of the European Parliament offices belonging to two assistants implicated in the case.
Details regarding the probe were revealed by the investigative platform Follow the Money, along with two Belgian newspapers, Le Soir and Knack. Reports indicated that one of the main suspects identified was 41-year-old Valerio Ottati, Huawei’s Director of EU Public Affairs, who previously served as an assistant to two Italian Members of the European Parliament affiliated with a group focused on China policy.
Huawei office in Brussels, Belgium | Image source: Vandebroek Interieur
An anonymous informant disclosed to Follow The Money that Ottati did not possess any technological expertise; his appointment at Huawei was solely due to his connections.
In the meantime, the European Commission has chosen not to comment on the investigation. Spokesperson Thomas Regnier reiterated the EU’s security concerns regarding Huawei and its impact on Europe’s 5G telecommunications networks.
“Huawei poses significantly greater risks compared to other 5G suppliers,” he stated, adding that EU member states should “make decisions to limit or exclude Huawei from their 5G networks.”
Source 1 (in French) • Source 2 | Via