The former lawyer of Salah Abdeslam – the key figure in the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris – is taking on the defense of Greek MEP Eva Kaili in the investigation into alleged corruption in the European Parliament.
Sven Marie, a prominent criminal defense lawyer in Belgium, told POLITICO on Monday that he will take over from Andre Rizopoulos, who has represented Kaili until now. “I’m taking over,” Marie said in a text.
Her former attorney confirmed to POLITICO that he is no longer in charge of the file, but declined to say why.
Marie is a well-known lawyer in Belgium, both because of his high-profile clients and because of his public appearances, for example on a human interest show for lawyers.
Outside Belgium he is best known as the lawyer who represented Abdeslam, the sole survivor of the group that carried out the Paris terror attacks in November 2015, who was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Even before that, he was known as the “devil’s advocate” because of his past clients, such as Fouad Belkacem, who recruited young men to fight for the Islamic State.
source: athensvoice