Pharmaceutical companies

The Greek prosecutors leading the investigation into the handling of the Novartis probe have written to authorities in the US, where the activities of the Swiss pharmaceutical firm have also been examined, with questions about the protected witnesses whose testimony led to accusations against Greek politicians, Kathimerini understands.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Greek lawmakers on Thursday voted to lift the immunity of three MPs in separate cases previously discussed in the Parliament's Ethics Committee.

A total of 224 MPs in a total of 225 agreed to lift the immunity of former health minister Andreas Loverdos, as regards the ongoing investigation into the handling of the Novartis case.

Greek Parliament's Ethics Committee unanimously proposed lifting former health minister Andreas Loverdos' immunity from prosecution as regards the ongoing investigation into the handling of the Novartis case.

Parliament's Ethics Committee will be advising lawmakers to lift the immunity from prosecution of former health minister Andreas Loverdos with regards to the ongoing investigation into the handling of the Novartis bribery case.

The countdown has begun for the launch of a special parliamentary committee to probe the possible mishandling by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos of the alleged bribery scandal involving prominent politicians and the Novartis pharmaceutical company after the submission Thursday of the relevant proposal by 30 New Democracy lawmakers - the number required by law.