The Ankara Public Prosecutors Office has initiated an investigation into the allegations that Novartis pharmaceutical company has been engaging in bribery.
The Swiss-based pharmaceutical company is accused of handing out in excess of $85 million to secure contracts and secure an advantage over other pharmaceutical companies in Turkey. Only last week Novartis was found guilty of engaging in bribery in China, and fined $460 million.
The company said it was “investigating” the allegations, according to Turkish media.
The investigation comes after an anonymous tip reported that Novartis is handing out bribes via a consultancy firm in Turkey. According to a report by Reuters, the tip came via email via an anonymous informant.
According to the informant, Novartis handed out the bribes to ensure public hospitals brought Novartis products and changing the name of two of its products in Turkey. The changing of the name of its products prevents the products’ price from decreasing in other countries if sold at a lower price in Turkey.