Protected witness charged with financial fraud Novartis case, “Maximos Sarafis”. He was arrested by the police yesterday morning along with two other people. Attica Security Directorate. The police investigation revealed that the three defendants had recommended virtual consulting firmwhich was supposed to undertake, on behalf of clients, the preparation and submission of dossiers to financial institutions for the issuance of loans on preferential terms.

A protected witness in the Novartis case was allegedly connected to a shell consulting firm.

They collected money from each of their clients as “registration fees” but never applied for a loan. At least that’s what they say information from the policewho investigated the case. In this way, they deceived at least 8 people, receiving a total of 600,000 euros from them. Officer EL.AS. Those who were asked about this were specified that the victims are mainly entrepreneurs working in the field of tourism and catering. The amount claimed by the defendants as estimated legal costs varied depending on the amount of the loan and the financial situation of the victims and ranged from EUR 5,000 to EUR 50,000. The three perpetrators were arrested yesterday morning during simultaneous operations at homes and offices in Athens by police from the Property Protection Department.

“Maximos Sarafis” was one of three protected witnesses in the Novartis case. As part of an investigation into a high-profile case, he was interrogated by a special parliamentary commission with electronic means to protect his anonymity. His testimony was given in February 2020, while he testified in an altered voice from the 8th floor of the Attica Police Headquarters, while the members of the investigating commission were on the 14th floor of the police station. According to reports from that period, “Maximos Sarafis” spoke of an “organized plan to bribe politicians” with “planned bribes” that was carried out by the leaders of a pharmaceutical company.