Overview
- Belgian authorities opened a new file targeting senior officials present at the December 9, 2022 raids after complaints by Eva Kaili, Francesco Giorgi and Maria Arena over alleged violations of investigative secrecy.
- Hugues Tasiaux, director of the anti-corruption office, is under formal investigation and has been removed from his post, with Corriere della Sera reporting he was detained in February and that seized messages showed journalists sought his feedback before publication.
- Lead investigator Bruno Arnold was questioned and, together with Tasiaux, reportedly pointed to former prosecutor Raphaël Malagnini in the leak inquiry.
- A renewed series of hearings in the separate review opened in 2023 is examining the use of agents, claimed breaches of parliamentary immunity and secrecy, a potential conflict involving judge Michel Claise, and the reliability of Pier Antonio Panzeri’s testimony.
- The prosecutor’s office says the main Qatargate probe is not ready for closure and requires significant further work, while Italian reporting notes there are still no formal charges or a definitive list of suspects.