Marc Tarabella, the Belgian MEP who is currently under investigation by the Belgian authorities in connection with the so-called Qatargate corruption scandal, has been transferred from a prison in Brussels to one closer to his family home in Wallonia, Sudinfo reports.
Tarabella had been held at Saint-Gilles Prison since being arrested six weeks ago. On Saturday, he was moved to Marche-en-Famenne prison: a mere 30-minute drive from his home in Anthisnes, where the 60-year-old also serves as mayor.
Tarabella's arrest last month came just days after his immunity was formally suspended by the European Parliament. In January, he was officially expelled from both his centre-left EU parliamentary group (S&D) as well as his political party in Belgium (PS). He is set to remain in pre-trial detention until at least the beginning of April.
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Among other allegations, Tarabella has been accused by Italian former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri of accepting bribes of up to €140,000 to support pro-Qatari policies. Tarabella denies all charges against him.
Following a prison visit last month, Tarabella's chief defence counsel described his client as "weakened [and] incredibly lonely", adding that "he thinks about his wife, his children, and his colleagues".
