Maltese MEP Daniel Attard wrongly linked to Huawei corruption probe in Belgian blunder
A Maltese MEP, Daniel Attard, was wrongly accused of receiving payments from China in a corruption probe linked to Huawei. Belgian prosecutors admitted the mistake after confusing him with a businessman of the same name. The error has sparked wider concerns about the handling of such investigations.
The case began when Belgian prosecutors demanded the European Parliament lift the immunity of five lawmakers, including Attard. They later withdrew the request for one MEP after realising they had misidentified him. The confusion arose because the businessman, also named Daniel Attard, had previously sold 'golden passports' under a Maltese scheme later ruled illegal by the EU's top court.
The prosecutor's office confirmed the error in a letter to the Parliament's legal affairs committee. Authorities admitted the mistake only after lawmakers pressed for verification of the accused person's identity. The businessman, meanwhile, denied any ties to the MEP or the Huawei investigation.
The incident has fuelled debates about China's influence in European politics. Some lawmakers criticised the prosecutors for publicly probing MEPs before gathering solid evidence. They warned that premature accusations could damage reputations unfairly.
No formal legal steps against Attard's immunity have been recorded as of March 9, 2026. The case highlights the risks of misidentification in high-profile corruption probes. It also underscores ongoing scrutiny of foreign lobbying and bribery within the EU's institutions.
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