The case file of the Novartis kickbacks investigation was submitted to the Plenary early Tuesday Afternoon. Acting Palriament Speaker, Tasia Christodoulopoulou, confirmed the delivery and read the names of those politicians, 2 former prime ministers and 8 ex ministers of Health, Finance and Labor, allegedly involved in the scandal as well as the possible offenses for which they should be checked.
The case file mentions the names of the following former ministers, prime ministers and the time period of:
– Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of Health 2006-2009
– Andreas Loverdos, Minister of Health, 2010 – 2012
– Andreas Lykorentzos, Minister of Health 2012 – 2013
– Marios Salmas, Deputy Minister of Health 2012 – 2013
– Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health 2013 – 2014
– Ioannis Stournaras, Finance Minister 2012 – 2014
– Evangelos Venizelos, Finance Minister 2011-2012 and Deputy Prime Minister 2013 – 2015
– Georgios Koutroumanis, Minister of Labor and Social Security 2011 – 2012
– Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister, 20-06-2012 to 26-01-2015
– Panayiotis Pikrammenos, Prime Minister, 15-05-2012 to 26-06-2012
They will be investigated for:
- accepted bribery political officials
- passive bribery
- breach of duty while in office
New Democracy: Samaras, Avramopoulos, Lykourentzos, Salmas, Georgiadis
PASOK: Venizelos, Stournaras, Koutromanis, Loverdos
Pikramenos is a judge who acted as interim PM during the two parliamentary elections in 2012.
The Parliament Speaker mentioned that the case file is accompanied by the petition submitted by Loverdos, Vassilis Kegkeroglou, Evi Christofilopoulou (PASOK) to Justice. The petition denounces “the non-pricing of medicines in the year 2015 which resulted into increase of health expenditure.” Christodoulopoulou did not read the name of the then Minister of Health, Panagiotis Kouroumplis (ex PASOK, then SYRIZA.)
The whole case file will not be made public, but those interested lawmakers may read it where it is kept in a room in the Palriament.
Right after the conclusion of the Plenary, Evaggelos Venizelos, who is also a Professor for Constitutional Law, asked that the identity of “protected witnesses should be exposed.”
“Their protection is only with regards of the testimonies given to the Prosecutor. Bring them to the Palriament!” he demanded. If there is a preliminary investigation [by the parliamentary committee] these three witnesses should come and testify. Their lives are not in danger because they testify on terrorism, their credibility should be judges,” Venizelos claimed adding that they are former Novartis executives.
It is the first time the names of those allegedly involved were made officially public.
