The Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of Athens recently imposed a total prison sentence of 25 months on Filistoras Destempasisidis and 33 months on Maria Marangeli for the Novartis case. These sentences are suspended for a period of three years.

Earlier, the court had recognized the mitigating circumstance of a previously law-abiding life for both convicted individuals.

When delivering the verdict, the presiding judge rejected, for both defendants, the mitigating circumstance of “non-humble motives” that their lawyers had requested.

However, in her recommendation regarding the mitigating circumstances, the prosecutor, referring to Filistoras Destempasisidis, emphasized that, unlike his co-defendant Maria Marangeli, who was absent from the dock throughout the trial, he attended every court session with a respectful demeanor.

“The recognition of the mitigating circumstance of non-humble motives is in complete contrast with the guilt for knowingly giving false testimony, and therefore should not be recognized. However, the mitigating circumstance of a previously law-abiding life should be granted; he attended every session, assisted, had a respectable attitude, and has a clean criminal record,” said the prosecutor regarding Destempasisidis. Regarding Marangeli, she stated: “Although the defendant did not endure the hardship of the proceedings, she appeared to give her defense. I do not have specific information about her life, but the mitigating circumstance of a law-abiding life should be recognized for her.”