The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has started a criminal investigation into the doings of Henrik Hololei, a former EU transport chief engulfed in a scandal related to accepting free gifts from Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International), media reported citing a confirmation from the office.

The move comes after Politico revealed in March 2023 that Hololei flew business class free of charge nine times between 2015 and 2021, all while he was negotiating an Open Skies deal with Qatar that would benefit the country’s national carrier.

ch-aviation has asked both Qatar Airways and the European Commission for comment.

After the initial report last year, a probe was launched by the European Anti-Fraud Office. That investigation resulted in a mandate being given to the European Commission’s disciplinary office to react. However, the internal procedure is still in early stages.

The EPPO’s reaction comes after France's Liberation newspaper reported that the EU was not taking the necessary measures when handling the Hololei case.

Since the initial probe, the Estonian official stepped down from the position of director general of the European Commission’s department for mobility and transport. However, he is still employed by the EU body as a political advisor.