A Moroccan spy codenamed ‘M118’ plays a central role in the corruption scandal involving Qatar and Morocco in the European Parliament. This is what the newspapers Le Soir and La Repubblica write, which have been particularly well informed since the start of the judicial investigation. The spy is said to be in contact with former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, another key figure in the corruption case.
The spy codenamed ‘M118’ has been known to European intelligence services for some time. He has already become involved in a corruption case when in 2016 – in the midst of the terror crisis – a police officer stole “sensitive” documents containing information about radicalized persons from Orly Airport in Paris to deliver them to Morocco. This also involved paid travel and bribery amounting to around 17,000 euros.
According to Le Soir and La Repubblica, the name of the spy also appears in the investigation into attempts by the Gulf state of Qatar to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament, by offering people with a political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament large paying sums of money or offering substantial gifts. Morocco is also involved, with possible corruption by its intelligence agency DGED and the Moroccan ambassador to Poland, Abderrahim Atmoun.
Mohammed B. or ‘M118’ is said to be one of the links between former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and the Moroccan secret service DGED. Pier Antonio Panzeri is in prison in our country after 700,000 euros were seized in his home. His wife and daughter were arrested in Italy because they were also aware and actively helped to hide the money.
LEAKED TELEGRAMS
It also seems that Panzeri had been influenced (and possibly paid) by Morocco for years. In a database of Moroccan diplomatic telegrams leaked by a hacker in 2014 and 2015 and accessed by Politico, Panzeri is described as a good friend of Morocco, an influential ally “able to support the growing activism of our enemies in Europe fight”.
The Qatargate investigation already mentions gifts that Panzeri received through Abderrahim Atmoun, the Moroccan ambassador in Warsaw in Poland. According to La Repubblica, spy Mohammed B. (or ‘M118’) directed the group around Panzeri together with Abderrahim Atmoun.
EVA KALI
In the same corruption investigation, Eva Kaili, the former Greek vice-president of the European Parliament, will also remain in jail for at least another month. The Brussels council chamber decided last Thursday to extend her detention.
This article is originally published on demorgen.be.
