Brussels - (AFP) - The Belgian judiciary decided Thursday to keep the Greek representative in the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, in pre-trial detention as part of an investigation into suspicions of corruption linked to Qatar, according to what the Federal Public Prosecutor announced.

The Brussels Chamber, which Kylie appeared before Thursday, 11 days after her arrest, refused her request to be released on bail and subject to monitoring by means of an electronic bracelet. The court decided to "extend her pretrial detention for a month," according to the Public Prosecution Office, in a statement.

Her clients have 24 hours to appeal the decision to keep her in pretrial detention, according to the Public Prosecution Office.

Kylie pleaded not guilty when she appeared in court and asked to be released pending trial.

The Greek MP, who was stripped of her position as Vice-President of the European Parliament on December 13 after the first information was revealed, appeared before the Brussels Council chamber in a closed hearing.

Her legal representative, Andre Risopoulos, had indicated that his client was "cooperating actively" with the Belgian investigation.

On Wednesday, lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, who is also Kylie's legal representative, said in a statement to reporters that his client was "very disturbed" and felt that her friend, also accused in the case, Francesco Georgi, had betrayed her.

The case shocked Brussels and Strasbourg, prompting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to announce "broad reforms" in 2023.

Kylie is also subject to a preliminary investigation by the Financial Public Prosecution in Athens on suspicion of "corruption" and "money laundering", in cooperation with the Belgian judiciary.

The case includes three other suspects in a "file of corruption, money laundering and organized crime within the European Parliament", namely Georgi, Rafik Kyli, former European MP Pierre Antonio Panzieri, and Nicolo Vega-Talamanca, an official of the NGO "No Peace Without Justice".

According to a Belgian judicial source, bags full of banknotes worth 150,000 euros were found in her apartment in Brussels.

Lawyer Dimitrakopoulos confirmed that his client "has no knowledge of the existence of these funds," noting that Georgie "betrayed" Kylie's trust.

In Greece, a judicial source announced Thursday that the judiciary had seized a joint bank account for Kylie and Georgie and a land on the island of Paros of an area of seven thousand square meters that had been purchased by this account.

The former TV news anchor turned controversial figure in the Greek Socialist Party (Pasouk Kinal) - who fired her - continues to deny receiving money from Qatar to influence her political decisions.

Qatar also denies any involvement in the scandal, which has strained relations between the European Union and the gas-rich emirate.