ATHENS – After nine other political rivals of the former ruling Radical Left SYRIZA it said were involved in an alleged bribery scandal with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis were cleared, PASOK Member of Parliament Andreas Loverdos won’t face any charges either.

He was a health minsiter with a former Socialist government and has denied for years the accusations that were brought after SYRIZA said two alleged whistleblowers made bribery claims but had no evidence.

In a unanimous decision, the Council of Misdemeanor Court Judges upheld the recommendation of the prosecutor in the case, Maria Kapsou, who said there was no proof – as he had said – to back up the charges being made secretly.

He was investigated in connection with alleged bribes from the Swiss pharmaceuticals group during his term as health minister from April 2011 to May 2012 in a case that quickly unraveled after SYRIZA leader and former premier Alexis Tsipras said it was “the biggest scandal in modern Greek history.”