Novartis

Two bench warrants have been issued ordering two witnesses to appear before a special parliamentary committee looking into the merit of claims of political interference in the Novartis bribery case.

The special parliamentary committee inquiring into the merit of claims of political interference in the Novartis bribery case is entitled to issue a bench warrant against a protected witness that failed to present himself on Tuesday afternoon at a hearing scheduled at the Athens police headquarters, sources inside the prosecutor's office told Kathimerini on Wednesday.

The head of the parliamentary committee investigating the case of former cabinet minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos has asked for the forced presence of the hitherto protected witness known by the name Maximos Sarafis as he failed to present himself on Tuesday afternoon at the hearing scheduled at the Athens police headquarters.

Former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos, who is accused of politically motivated interference in the investigation of the alleged scandal involving Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis and several Greek politicians, insists that his accusers will end up looking like "fools."

Former appeals court prosecutor Georgia Tsatani is on Monday to resume her testimony before a parliamentary committee probing possible political interference in the Novartis investigation by former alternate justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos.
Last week Tsatani accused Papangelopoulos of trying to interfere in her work and using threatening language against her.

In testimony on Thursday to a parliamentary committee probing possible political interference in the Novartis investigation, former appeals court prosecutor Georgia Tsatani allegedly accused former alternate justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos of trying to interfere in her work and using threatening language.

Testifying on Friday in the probe into the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former prime minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

Testifying on Friday in the probe of the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

The decision of ruling New Democracy's parliamentary majority not to limit the scope of the House committee tasked with probing former justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos' handling of the alleged bribery scandal involving pharmaceutical giant Novartis and prominent Greek politicians, seems to have been vindicated by the results of the long-drawn-out investigation.

Konstantinos Frouzis, former vice president and general manager of Novartis Geece, claimed on Thursday that he was pressured by corruption prosecutors to testify against politicians.

The case concerns the alleged bribery scandal involving the Swiss pharmaceutical company and Greek politicians and doctors.