Belgium launched an investigation on Friday into possible corruption involving an unidentified Gulf state and at least one member of the European Parliament, the federal prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said 16 houses were searched in Brussels on Friday as part of a major investigation into alleged offences of criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering.
In an emailed statement, the prosecutor said investigators from the Federal Judicial Police had for months suspected a Gulf country of trying to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament by "paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties with a significant political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament".
About 600,000 euros in cash was recovered and computer equipment and mobile phones were seized, the prosecutor said.
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