An Italian member of the European Parliament denied taking bribes from Huawei as lawmakers weigh whether to strip him of parliamentary immunity in a Belgian corruption investigation, according to a report by Follow the Money.

Fulvio Martusciello, a center-right Italian MEP, told the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee on Tuesday that thousands of euros transferred to his Belgian bank account in June last year were not bribes but repayments from a former aide, the report said.

In a statement cited by Follow the Money, Martusciello said transfers totaling €6,700 were reimbursements for cash he had lent to his former aide, identified as Nuno WM, whom Belgian investigators suspect acted as an intermediary in the alleged bribery scheme.

The case stems from a corruption probe disclosed in March last year by FTM and its media partners, who reported that Belgian police had raided the homes and offices of Huawei lobbyists and parliamentary assistants suspected of bribing MEPs with cash and gifts in exchange for political influence. Four people were charged with bribery and participation in a criminal organization, while a fifth was charged with money laundering, according to the report. 

The most serious allegation is that associates of Valerio Otatti, a former Huawei lobbyist described as the main suspect, paid MEPs to sign a letter supporting Huawei’s interests, specifically the rollout of its 5G technology across the European Union, FTM said. According to an arrest warrant issued in March 2025 and cited by the outlet, investigators said €15,000 may have been offered to the author of the letter and €1,500 to each co-signatory.

Police found a draft of the letter on Otatti’s computer, and investigators believe he may have helped write it, the news outlet reported. The file was created by someone identified as “Nuno,” whom Belgian authorities believe was Nuno WM, Martusciello’s former aide. Investigators suspect he later paid the authors of the letter. 

Read more at Follow the Money