Greece investigates Novartis for alleged bribery

A Greek investigation into allegations of corruption against the Basel-based pharmaceutical giant has been announced following the attempted suicide of a Greek Novartis official on Sunday. On Tuesday, Greek parliamentarian Stavros Kontonis promised a “quick and thorough” investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption on the part of certain Novartis officials. According to a statement from the Greek justice ministry, Kontonis ordered the investigation following “denunciations (published in the press) concerning bribery payments to officials by Novartis”. Swiss news agency ATS reports that according to a judicial source, a preliminary investigation has been underway for the last two months, and about 178 people have been interviewed regarding presumed illegal discounts offered by Novartis to civil servants or doctors. The amount of the payments has not yet been named. The case has rebounded in recent days after a suicide attempt on New Year’s Day in Athens ...