A prominent Belgian prosecutor has expressed concerns about the way the Qatargate corruption case has been managed within the legal system and portrayed by the

media. According to a report in the Brussels Times on Monday, Frédéric Van Leeuw argues that external pressures have compromised the presumption of innocence for the individuals under investigation.

During an interview with the French-language public broadcaster RTBF, Van Leeuw, who has served as a federal prosecutor for a decade, revealed his unease over the intense pressure faced by both investigators and suspects. He stated, "Leaks abound, and foreign magistrates sometimes attempt to become involved in the investigation."

'Media Frenzy'

Van Leeuw also raised concerns about what he referred to as a "media frenzy" directed at the former investigating judge, Michel Claise. Claise recused himself from the case in June after it was revealed that his son had co-founded a business with the son of Belgian MEP Marie Arena, who is also a subject of investigation in the same case.

"In the case of the former investigating judge and his family, there is a frenzy that I find distasteful," he remarked. "This person appears to be unable to defend himself effectively due to his prior involvement in the investigation."

Furthermore, Van Leeuw pointed out the detrimental impact of online bots, which he claimed have been created by foreign entities to harass investigators and suspects and disseminate false information about the case.

Differing Perspective

In contrast to the views expressed by some European officials, Van Leeuw contested the notion that Qatargate indicates systemic corruption within European institutions. Up to this point, Marc Tarabella is the sole Belgian MEP who has faced charges in connection with the scandal. Qatargate revolves around allegations that European officials accepted bribes and other illicit favors from the governments of Qatar, Morocco, and Mauritania. Photo by Sparrow (麻雀), Wikimedia commons.