Searches and arrests at Huawei: Belgian police investigate corruption and money laundering at company offices

Belgian police searched Huawei's headquarters in Brussels, as well as 20 other locations in the provinces of Flanders, Wallonia and Portugal. The operation resulted in arrests.

Here's What We Know

The Belgian prosecutor's office said the investigation relates to allegations of active corruption, document forgery and money laundering in the European Parliament. The bribery is alleged to have been aimed at obtaining benefits for Huawei.

The investigation concerns lobbyists for the Chinese tech giant who allegedly bribed MEPs to influence EU decision-making. A judge has ordered the sealing of MEP offices linked to two aides involved in the case. Among the suspects is Valerio Ottati, Huawei's EU communications director, who previously worked as an assistant to two Italian MEPs.

The European Commission declined to comment on the investigation, but expressed concerns about the security of Huawei and 5G networks in Europe. A commission spokesperson emphasised that Huawei poses higher risks than other 5G vendors and called on EU countries to restrict or exclude the company from their networks.

Source: Euronews