The huge amounts of “pandemic” money sloshing around in the budgets of various Western countries were an invitation to all sorts of grifters to put their snouts into the trough. The following scandal from Belgium is the latest to emerge. It seems that a politically connected operator was able to grease the right palms and get a lucrative (€50 million) COVID-money deal redirected to a favored crony.

Kathleen Depoorter is a member of the federal Belgian parliament for the New Flemish Alliance (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA). In the following video she calls out the country’s political leadership about the Corona money scandal.

Many thanks to Hellequin GB for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes and RAIR Foundation for the subtitling:

English-language articles about this scandal are scarce. The one below was the most comprehensive I could find. I realize that BNN Breaking is a deprecated source, but those who read French will find that this article from the Belgian state broadcaster RTBF lines up well with the BNN Breaking story:

Belgium’s Health Ministry Embroiled in Contract Controversy: A Deep Dive

by Ebenezer Mensah
December 9, 2023

In the heart of Belgium, a dispute has arisen, casting a shadow over Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke and the Federal Public Service (SPF) Health Public. At the core of the controversy is the awarding of a public contract initially entrusted to Belgian SME Medista, for the distribution and storage of strategic reserve of medicines, COVID-19 tests, and vaccines. In 2022, the contract was transitioned to French multinational company Movianto, bringing the fairness of the process under scrutiny.

Medista Cries Foul

Medista, holder of the contract from 2020 to 2022, contested the decision, alleging that an SPF Health Public official unfairly assisted Movianto. In an attempt to validate their claims, Medista presented evidence, including hidden camera videos obtained with the assistance of Black Cube, a private investigation firm staffed by ex-members of the Israeli intelligence service.

Medista also claimed unpaid invoices amounting to EUR 5.3 million from the SPF, unsuccessfully challenging the contract award in the Council of State, and sought to amicably settle the dispute.

Public Exposure and Response

The case gained public attention when a video was leaked showing an SPF official explaining how she helped Movianto secure the contract. Sarah Taybi, Medista’s director, justified the use of a hidden camera to gather evidence, citing failed attempts to communicate with the minister.

In response, Health Minister Vandenbroucke and the head of the SPF Health Public held a press conference to refute the findings and assert that Movianto’s contract was awarded correctly. The dispute remains unresolved, with the content of the hidden camera videos playing a significant role in the ongoing disagreement.

The Wider Implications

This controversy emerges amidst a broader context of legal disputes around the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine purchases and an ongoing review of the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation looking at recalibrating IP incentives. These incidents underscore the complex, multifaceted dynamics that underpin the worldwide distribution and storage of essential medical supplies, particularly during a global pandemic.

Video transcript: