• Belgian police seize €600,000 in Brussels raids.
• Authorities assume Gulf state gave gifts or money to influence lawmakers.
• Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP and EU vice president, was detained.

In connection with a Gulf state’s inquiry into possible bribery at the European Parliament, purportedly Qatar, four people have been charged.

Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP and vice president of the European Parliament, was previously detained in connection with the investigation.

Authorities believe the Gulf state tried to sway legislative choices by giving gifts or financial contributions.

The government of Qatar has refuted the allegation that its nation is the accused one, which has been made by local media.

It might be one of the largest corruption scandals the European Parliament has ever seen, according to watchdogs and opposition MEPs.

The Socialists and Democrats group in the parliament has suspended Ms. Kaili, one of the 14 elected vice presidents, and the Greek center-left Pasok party has expelled her.

In 16 searches conducted on Friday in Brussels, Belgian police confiscated cash totaling roughly €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000). Additionally taken for examination were computers and cell phones.

Two of the six people who were held for questioning have already been released.

“Four individuals have been arrested by the Brussels investigating judge who is leading the investigation,” the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

“They are charged with participation in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. Two persons have been released by the investigating judge.”

The prosecutor claimed that for several months, investigators had had reason to believe that a Gulf state had been meddling in the economic and political decisions of the parliament, particularly by focusing on aides.

The Gulf nation under scrutiny has been identified by local media as Qatar.

A Qatari government spokesperson told Media: “We are not aware of any details of an investigation. Any claims of misconduct by the State of Qatar are gravely misinformed.”

The country “operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations”, he added.

According to a Reuters representative, the European Parliament would not comment on an ongoing inquiry but would, if necessary, cooperate with the local authorities.

The Middle East is one of Ms. Kaili’s duties as vice president.

She has previously stood up for Qatar.

In a speech last month about human rights during the Fifa World Cup in Qatar, she called the country a “frontrunner in labor rights”, for abolishing kafala, a legal framework used in several Gulf states which human rights organizations compare to modern slavery.

“The World Cup in Qatar is proof, actually, of how sports diplomacy can achieve a historical transformation of a country with reforms that inspired the Arab world,” she said.

She accused some MEPs of bullying and discriminating against Qatar, adding: “They accuse everyone that talks to them or engages of corruption.”

In the past, Qatar has been charged of corruption, especially during its campaign to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The nation refuted the accusations, and Fifa exonerated it of any wrongdoing.

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