Novartis Scandal: Former Protected Witnesses Face Criminal Prosecution

Greece on Monday prosecuted a pair of protected witnesses for alleged perjury in a long-running bribery probe involving the Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis, a justice source said.

The man and woman, identified under the pseudonyms “Aikaterini Kelesi” and “Maximos Sarafis,” are expected to go on trial on March 7, 2025.

The case, which began in 2017, sparked a scandal in Greece as witnesses testified that several senior politicians were supposedly involved in helping Novartis dominate the Greek health market. In addition to the implicated politicians, about 100 doctors and approximately 30 high-ranking civil servants were allegedly caught up in the affair. However, investigating magistrates ultimately failed to find enough incriminating evidence to press charges formally.

Criminal charges against the former witnesses were filed after an investigation by the Athens District Court Prosecutor’s Office, launched following the revocation of their protected status. The charges include false testimony and accusations of their involvement in the high-profile corruption case.

Political Repercussions and Legal Actions

The two former witnesses, now defendants, had previously testified in the Novartis bribery case, which led to multiple lawsuits filed by politicians who claimed they were falsely accused. Among those who sought to have the witnesses’ protected status removed were:

• Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras
• Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras
• Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis
• Former Minister Andreas Loverdos

In October 2024, judicial authorities took the rare step of revealing the identities of the witnesses after calls from senior politicians targeted in the probe. Critics argued that this move would discourage future witnesses from giving testimony under the protection of anonymity.

In July 2024, Antonis Samaras formally requested that the witnesses’ identities be disclosed to the Economic Crime Prosecutor. He also called for their reclassification from “public interest witnesses,” removing their protection and initiating legal proceedings for false testimony and defamation.

Source: pagenews.gr