Testimony of Andreas Xanthos at the Special Court – Denial of any responsibilities of the prosecutor Eleni Touloupaki

By Ioanna Mandrou

During his lengthy testimony, former Minister of Health (during SYRIZA) and current Member of Parliament Andreas Xanthos appeared negative about the involvement of prosecutor Elenis Touloupakis and former minister Dimitris Papagelopoulos, who are on trial before the Special Court.

The witness, answering dozens of questions regarding the responsibility for drug pricing, stated that “the Minister of Health does not participate in the drug repricing process, as there were special committees for this and the minister actually only puts his signature”.

When asked by the president of the Special Court, Vasilikis Iliopoulou, if Mrs. Touloupakis had a relationship with Mr. Kouroumplis, the witness replied that he “does not know” and added that in his opinion she could not have.

To another question from the president if Mr. Kouroumplis interceded for Mrs. Touloupakis, the witness’s answer was “no”, while to another question from Mrs. Iliopoulos, if Mrs. Touloupakis wanted to harm or benefit someone or benefit the pharmaceutical companies , the answer was again “no”.

It should be noted that the charge facing the former head of the Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is that she did not send to the Parliament, in application of the law on the responsibility of ministers, a complaint by KINAL against Kouroumbilis regarding the pharmaceutical expenditure and its management.

Mr. Xanthos’ answer to the president’s question as to whether Mr. Kouroumplis, by not repricing the drugs, intended to harm the State or benefit the pharmaceutical companies was also negative.

Mr. Xanthos clarified that on the part of Mr. Kouroumplis, the non-repricing of the drugs during the disputed period was a formal omission without having any harmful effects. He clarified, at the same time, that the context of that time did not allow price increases, without this burdening the State.

At another point, Mr. Xanthos stated that it is obvious “that the case before the court is a political distraction” and emphasized that “it is insulting to my intelligence that the two defendants are in this position, that a prosecutor and a minister are abandoned for such a case. It is a matter of political confrontation”.

Previously, the former minister and former PASOK-KINAL MP Paraskevi (Evi) Christofilopoulos completed her testimony. During today’s hearing, the latter answered questions from the defendants.

Tomorrow, at noon, Mr. Xanthos will continue his testimony

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.