Novartis case: Two former protected witnesses are called to account as suspects

Two previously protected witnesses in the Novartis case are being asked to explain to prosecutors their claims against politicians that were not confirmed by the judicial investigation.

The two witnesses, former employees of the pharmaceutical industry, are being subpoenaed on suspicion of false accusations and perjury, offenses relating to their allegations of politicians bribed to benefit Novartis and strengthen its market position.

For these crimes, the two witnesses were sued by the politicians affected by their testimony, but the lawsuits were shelved, as the defendants maintained judicial protection as protected witnesses. The recent lifting of the protection regime by the Financial Prosecutor’s Office, however, started the process of reexamining from the file the approximately 20 lawsuits that had been filed against high-ranking politicians and investigating what the plaintiffs had complained about. The real identity of the two witnesses was officially revealed by the Financial Prosecutor’s decision.

After the two witnesses, a former high-level manager at Novartis named Filistor Destebasidis, and the secretary fo the former head of the company, Maria Marageli, give explanations, either in person or in a memorandum, the Prosecutors will decide what the further criminal treatment of the case will b