Seven hours of questioning and the most serious charges were shelved. Lucia Simeone, collaborator of the MEP Fulvio Martusciello (who is not under investigation), answered questions from investigators and the investigating judge in Brussels yesterday as part of the Belgian investigation into alleged bribes to promote 5G in Europe.
This was confirmed by the lawyer Antimo Giaccio, the woman's legal representative, who was arrested on March 20 in Caserta on a warrant from the Belgian authorities. Simeone was initially transferred to the Naples-Secondigliano prison, then placed under house arrest.
At the end of the interrogation, the hypotheses of criminal association and corruption were dropped. Only the accusation of money laundering remained, linked to a transfer of a thousand euros which, according to what Simeone reported, represented the return of a sum advanced for the purchase of a box of cigars to a lobbyist.
Arrest warrant revoked, Simeon – who has expressed full willingness to cooperate with investigators – will remain in Belgium at least until May 10, with no possibility of contact with Martusciello or other individuals involved and with a ban on leaving the Schengen area until July.
A decision, that of the Belgian judicial authorities, which downsizes the role of the parliamentary collaborator in the case of alleged illicit influence linked to interests in Huawei and the 5G network.
Article published on 30 April 2025 - 14:50
The situation described in the article is quite complicated and raises many questions about Lucia Simeone's future. Even though the charges have been dismissed, there is still much to clarify about the transfer and her role.