Millions Frozen in Novartis Witness Scandal

Greek authorities freeze assets in Greece and Switzerland; new criminal probe launched for money laundering.

Under the order of Charalampos Vourliotis, head of the Greek Authority for Combating Money Laundering from Criminal Activities, all assets of former “protected witnesses” in the Novartis case, Filistor Destempasidis (“Maximos Sarafis”) and Maria Marangeli (“Aikaterini Kelesi”), have been frozen in both Greek and Swiss banks.

The move concerns funds received from U.S. authorities related to their testimony in Greek courts. The Authority determined that when these individuals testified as public-interest witnesses, they did not meet legal requirements, since they had a financial incentive.

The two former protected witnesses are now on trial in second-instance proceedings for false testimony, having been sentenced in first-instance court to 25–33 months suspended imprisonment.

The asset freeze has already been transmitted to banks, covering bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, shares, and real estate.

At the same time, the Vourliotis Authority froze assets of 12 other individuals, whose accounts received money from the two defendants’ payments without explanation. Amounts range from €30,000 to €500,000, with €10 million identified for one witness and €17 million for the other in Swiss banks.

This action is the prelude to a new criminal investigation into the felony of money laundering, while the Authority also requests investigation of the 12 other individuals for criminal complicity in money laundering.

Source: pagenews.gr