Martusciello's secretary answers the investigating judge's question and goes under house arrest

During the preliminary hearing, Lucia Simeone, assistant to Forza Italia MEP Fulvio Martusciello, who ended up in prison two days ago in an investigation into alleged Huawei lobbyists, in execution of an Interpol order for the crimes of criminal association, corruption and money laundering, answered questions and was granted house arrest.

The woman had been reached by a European arrest warrant issued by the Belgian judicial authority as part of an investigation focused on alleged bribes, for around 46 thousand euros, paid to some politicians so that they would spend themselves at the EU level in favor of the Chinese giant.

Assisted by the lawyer Antimo Giaccio, Lucia Simeone, answered questions during the interrogation that took place before the judge Corinna Forte of the Court of Appeal of Naples. For the secretary of Martusciello in Brussels the Belgian authorities have requested the extradition and now the surrender procedure is opened.

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 Lawyer secretary of Martusciello, 'Belgians contest 2 invoices'

“According to what emerges from a translation believed to be faithful of the documents, the Belgian prosecutor's office is accusing Lucia Simeone of complicity in the issuing of two invoices that we believe are absolutely invented since the defendant is not the holder of any VAT number and does not manage any activities that contemplate them”.

This was explained to the press agencies by the lawyer Antimo Giaccio, legal representative of Lucia Simeone, collaborator of the Forza Italia MEP Fulvio Martusciello, who was hit by a European arrest warrant issued by the Belgian judicial authorities as part of an investigation focused on alleged bribes, for around 46 thousand euros, paid to some politicians so that they would spend themselves at the EU level, through a letter, to favor the Chinese giant Huawei on 5G.

Today Lucia Simeone answered questions from the judge of the Court of Appeal and the deputy attorney general of Naples. “The money they are referring to,” explained the criminal lawyer, “are transfers received from the former Portuguese colleague of MEP Fulvio Martusciello, Miguel Benoliel de Carvalho Wahnon Martens, a person with whom Lucia Simeone has a friendly relationship as well as a colleague and to whom she also made transfers, but of a personal nature, from 4 to 500 euros each.”

Lawyer Giaccio had asked for his client's freedom. "The suspect answered all the questions that were asked of her," the lawyer concluded, "and announced that she was ready to defend herself and also to face trial in Belgium."