Morocco ‘tried to bribe’ members of European Parliament for Pegasus probe details
Morocco's Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and former EU Parliament vice president Eva Kaili
Morocco tried to bribe Members of European Parliament(MEPs) to obtain information about a European parliament investigation into its use of Pegasus spyware, authorities probing "Qatargate" scandal involving corrupt practices by the European parliament members, said on Friday.
What is Morocco accused of?
According to a report in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Morocco's intelligence agency, Directorate of Territorial Surveillance,allegedly made payments after it was accused of using Pegasus spyware to spy on President Emmanuel Macron and French government ministers.
WATCH |Qatar condemns EU corruption probe as Qatari diplomat says allegations may hamper ties
The claims further add to the "Qatargate" scandal in which four people, including now-suspended vice president of European Parliament Eva Kaili, have been arrested for allegedly taking bribes after authorities found hidden stashes of cash in multiple locations in Brussels.
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Ranbir Kapoor-Yash's Ramayana trailer postponed, producer cites Sony Pictures deal as reason
)
India to test fire three Kusha long-range surface-to-air missiles | Gravitas
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
Ukrainian drone wrecks irreplaceable Russian bomber 800km inside the country, satellite images show it halved
)
Scientists decode rare metal that allows China's radar satellite to spy over Asia Pacific
)
ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot
)
'Most important foundation': Dharmendra Pradhan's long note on 'school education' amid calls for his resignation
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police block 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Delhi Police chief gets NSA detention powers but force denies link to CJP protests
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
Accidental overdose: UK inquest rules out foul play in Saudi Prince’s London death
)
Russia-Ukraine war escalates| Zelensky pushes patriot missile production as Black sea crisis deepens
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 24, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, Pallichattambi- Watch these 6 titles on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Major defence breakthrough: DRDO test-fires Kusha LRSAM system, hits simulated target
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 fires its missiles straight up into the air
)
Will India switch to plastic currency? Why RBI wants to replace paper currency, and what it means for your wallet | WION Decodes
)
'Oh my god!' Orca deliberately rams into sunfish so hard that it exploded. For food or fun?
)
Commonwealth Games 2026: India's medal hopes suffer after doping woes
)
FIFA 2026 | 'I am truly sorry': Argentina's Enzo Fernandez, who get red card in final, reacts to loss
)
Man with babyish face spends Rs 10 lakh on beard transplant to be taken seriously at work
)
Iran flew IRGC men, advisers and military gear to Yemen, bolstered Houthis for Red Sea blockade: Sources
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Pakistan army chief used private oil venture to keep Iran attacks off Saudi Arabia: Report
)
‘Stole the show’: Young man’s uncanny imitation of Trump leaves internet stunned | WATCH
)
Jana Nayagan box office collection: Here's how much CM Vijay's political drama mints on day 1
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
'Sonam, it’s done, bro. Don’t extend this': Salman Khan now urges protesting students to go home, offers Wangchuk home cooked food to end fast
)
The La Repubblica report cites documents disclosed by Belgian prosecutors which reportedly indicate that the Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino was one of the contacts of the Morrocan intelligence agency.
ALSO READ |'Qatargate' scandal: The meteoric rise and tragic fall of Greek MEP Eva Kaili
Another report by Belgian newspaper De Standaard suggests that Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former Member of European Parliament (MEP), allegedly received illicit money as well as benefits from Morocco's government via its ambassador to Poland and another close friend of Panzeri's.
Cozzolino’s parliament assistant, Francesco Giorgi, is among the four people under arrest on suspicion of taking bribes.
ALSO READ |EU parliament's corruption investigation can 'negatively' impact relations: Qatar
During the arrests, police found €1.5 million in cash. Cozzolino, who has denied all wrongdoing and is not officially under investigation, said this week he was frustrated with continuing media reports of his involvement in the scandal and wanted to meet Belgian prosecutors to clear his name.
The Belgian prosecutors’ report said Morocco’s moles on the commission "were more than prudent and worked in a discrete way, avoiding appearing too pro-Moroccan at the parliament", The Times reported.
They also communicated with each other in code, the report stated.
Morocco has yet to deny allegations of involvement in the scandal.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.