In the Novartis case, former protected witnesses Filistor Destampasidis and Maria Marangeli have now been summoned to the prosecutor’s office as suspects. Both are being questioned for false denunciations and false testimony.

The case came to light after complaints were filed by political figures who had been accused by these witnesses of accepting bribes from the pharmaceutical giant Novartis. However, their testimonies have not been corroborated by any other evidence. As a result, the cases involving these political figures were archived, and recently, the financial prosecutor’s office declassified the witnesses, meaning Destampasidis and Marangeli will now face those they had falsely accused.

The former Novartis employees will now provide explanations for their actions after legal complaints were filed by the political figures they accused, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Bank of Greece Governor Giannis Stournaras, and Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, among others.

It’s worth noting that until recently, these lawsuits were “frozen” due to the protection provided to the two witnesses under pseudonyms “Maximos Sarafis” and “Aikaterini Kelesi.” With their recent declassification, their true identities have been revealed, and their judicial protection against potential criminal charges has been fully lifted.

Following their explanations, the relevant judicial authorities will assess the case and decide on the next steps. Destampasidis and Marangeli have the right to request deadlines to prepare their statements.