Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comGreek NewsCrimeGreek Doctors Probed In Bribe Case

Greek Doctors Probed In Bribe Case

JohnsonLooking for cash everywhere, Greece’s government is stepping up the fight against tax evasion and is investigating 11 state hospital doctors who couldn’t explain why they had 5.8 million euros ($7.75 million) in their bank accounts.
The Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) is probing the physicians as part of a corruption scandal involving DePuy, a subsidiary of US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, the newspaper Kathimerini reported.
According to SDOE, officials of a Greek company based on the Isle of Man bribed state hospital doctors in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patra in order to promote DePuy products. More than 20 million euros in fines ($26.7 million) were imposed on this and other firms implicated in the affair. Officials of two orthopedic suppliers reportedly visited the Finance Ministry to pay a settlement of 12.1 million euros, ($16.17 million).
SDOE is also probing a German pharmaceutical firm alleged to have bribed researchers to promote its products. Five executives from Johnson & Johnson are to face investigation in Greece over the allegations.
Kathimerini said last month that magistrate Spyros Georgouleas was seeking details of the suspects’ bank accounts as well as possible links to offshore companies that may have been used to pay an alleged $16-$18 million in bribes to eight Greek doctors and some hospital directors. The money was allegedly paid between 1998 and 2006.
In 2011, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $76.9 million to US authorities to settle legal action regarding bribery in Greece, Poland, Romania and Iraq.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts