A senior Huawei executive overseeing European operations has been formally charged in Belgium’s expanding corruption investigation into alleged bribery at the European Parliament, according to Politico.
Court documents reveal a person called Yong J., Huawei’s vice president for Europe and former EU chief representative, faces accusations of “active corruption of a public official, criminal organisation, and money laundering.” The charges stem from a probe examining whether illicit payments were made to secure political support for the Chinese tech company.
The closed-door hearing at Brussels’ Chamber of Accusation marks a critical juncture in the case, which has already seen police raids on Huawei’s Brussels offices and multiple parliamentary premises. Prosecutors allege eight MEPs signed an open letter backing Huawei’s interests following suspected bribes, a claim that has sent shockwave through EU institutions.
Three other Huawei employees–lobbyist Valerio O., senior executive Han W., and an unnamed individual–face similar charges. While all suspects remain presumed innocent, the company has already terminated two employees and suspended a third over the allegations.
A Huawei spokesperson reiterated the firm’s “zero-tolerance” anti-corruption policy but declined to confirm if the disciplined staff overlap with those charged. With the EU considering stricter foreign lobbying rules, the case could accelerate regulatory crackdowns on Chinese tech firms.
Belgian authorities have kept details tightly guarded, but arrest warrants suggest investigators are tracing money flows between Huawei affiliates and EU policymakers. The probe mirrors earlier cases like Qatargate, exposing vulnerabilities in Parliament’s ethics safeguards. For Huawei, already battling US sanctions, the charges risk further eroding trust in critical Western markets.
