Novartis

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras on Thursday dismissed as "laughable" allegations by three prosecutors who are under investigation for their handling of the Novartis investigation that he threatened a former protected witness in the probe.

A special parliamentary committee that will be inquiring into the merit of claims of political interference in the Novartis bribery case is set to start choosing witnesses on Tuesday afternoon.

In testimony before a Supreme Court prosecutor on Thursday, a former protected witness in the Novartis investigation claimed that he came under pressure from Greek corruption prosecutors to testify against politicians in the absence of any incriminating evidence.

A cross-party committee that is to investigate whether former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos should be prosecuted over suspected interventions in an investigation into the alleged bribery of Greek politicians by Swiss drugmaker Novartis sat for the first time on Wednesday.

The Greek government's decision on Tuesday to leave the cabinet chairs empty during a parliamentary debate on the creation of a special committee to investigate possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis inquiry bears a significant symbolic weight.

Two prosecutors who are investigating the handling of a controversial judicial probe that pointed to the alleged bribery of Greek politicians by Swiss pharmaceuticals firm Novartis on Wednesday heard from one of the 10 politicians.

Former PM Alexis Tsipras told Parliament that his alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos has been turned into a scapegoat.

He believes the Novartis scandal was properly handled legally and morally and that there is no indication of a conspiracy or manipulation of the judiciary.

Δείτε ακόμη: Μητσοτάκης - Θα προκαταβάλλεται το επίδομα θέρμανσης

Greek MPs have approved the creation of a parliamentary committee to probe possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation.
The conservative proposal received 173 yes-votes, while 83 MPs voted against. The Greek Communist Party (KKE), Greek Solution and Mera25 abstained from the vote.

Late on Tuesday night MPs were poised to approve the creation of a parliamentary committee to probe possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation. 

A proposal by ruling New Democracy for the creation of a special parliamentary committee to investigate possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation is to be debated by Parliament's plenary session on Tuesday.