Huawei Linked to EU Parliament Bribery Scandal: Five Charged

Belgian prosecutors announced on Tuesday that five individuals have been charged in connection with a bribery investigation at the European Parliament allegedly linked to China's Huawei. Five were detained last week; four have been arrested and charged with active corruption and involvement in a criminal organization, while a fifth faces money laundering charges and has been conditionally released. Prosecutors did not disclose names but said new searches took place Monday at European Parliament offices. The alleged corruption, prosecutors say, occurred "very discreetly" since 2021 under the guise of commercial lobbying, involving payments for political stances or excessive gifts like food, travel, and football tickets. Huawei responded, stating it takes the allegations seriously and maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.