Italian court approves extradition in European Parliament's 'Qatargate' case
A suspect in the major corruption scandal rocking the European Union's parliament could be handed over to Belgium, an Italian court ruled.
The court in the northern city of Brescia decided that Maria Dolores Colleoni could be taken to Belgium based on a European arrest warrant linking her to the scandal through her husband, former EU lawmaker Pier Antonio Panzeri.
The court in Brescia specified that any sentence would be served in Italy.
It also said in its decision that an allowance for house arrest could eventually be made also in Belgium, where prosecutors are investigating a plan to peddle influence on behalf of Qatar and Morocco.
Prosecutor Giovanni Benelli made the decision public without providing details, but Colleoni is not likely to head to Belgium soon. Her defence lawyers have said they are considering an appeal to Italy's highest court.
Panzeri and three other people were charged 9 December with corruption, participation in a criminal group and money laundering.
Belgian prosecutors are investigating if they were "paid large sums of money or offered substantial gifts to influence parliament's decisions".
The allegations that cash and gifts were exchanged for political influence are at the heart of one of the biggest scandals to hit the European Parliament.
Lawmakers last week suspended work on Qatar-related files and vowed to toughen lobbying laws. Qatar vehemently denies its involvement.
Colleoni's lawyer, Angelo de Riso, told reporters that she is "worried" about the case.
Her defence team also expressed concern that she might be placed under house arrest while in Belgium awaiting trial.
Colleoni's lawyers have five days to appeal the decision. Italy's high court would then have 10 days to rule on whether she
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