Seventy-eight sentences for a total of about three centuries in prison, twenty-one acquittals, provisional payments of 600,000 euros to the Puglia Region, a "treasure" of seven million euros that the nine pharmaceutical companies involved in the proceeding paid, under bargaining terms, to avoid disqualification from carrying out business activities and which, while waiting to be assigned in part to the Region, in part to the Treasury, earn interest that contributes to "self-financing" the judicial offices. Even if – it should be emphasized – the sentence comes a few months after the statute of limitations for the crimes of corruption, forgery and fraud. However, as the board has acknowledged that many of the doctors and scientific representatives play the role of promoters and organizers of the alleged organisations, the statute of limitations has been extended for the crime of criminal association.
The curtain on "Farmatruffa", the scam of over 20 million euros to the national health service, has closed like this for now. With the Court of Bari which fully accepted the prosecution's thesis, represented by the prosecutor Ciro Angelillis, flanked, during the reading of the device by the prosecutor Antonio Laudati. "I just wanted to let my colleague know that I appreciated his work," the head of the office said yesterday. So no triumphalism. "The sentences are respected, they are not commented on".
Just to read the device, returning to Farmatruffa, it took more than an hour. Sentences for over 260 years in prison, substantial acceptance of the prosecution system, recognition of criminal association for all the defendants accused of this crime, statute of limitations for crimes committed before 2002. The prosecutor was right: the scam of over 20 million euros to the national health service took place. The highest penalty was imposed on Michele Salzo, the alleged head of the organization, sentenced to seven years' imprisonment (one year more than what had been requested at the end of the indictment). The lowest is six months' imprisonment. The Apulia Region, set up as a civil party, had asked for five million euros in compensation for damages. The Court recognized a provisional amount of around 600 thousand euros compared to the million requested.
For the other civil parties, the local health authorities of Brindisi, Lecce and Bari, the order of doctors and pharmacists, the damages will be quantified separately. The facts disputed against doctors, pharmacists, scientific representatives, area managers of pharmaceutical companies, date back to 2000-2003. According to the indictment, after receiving money and other "benefits" from scientific informants, general practitioners prescribed drugs without the knowledge of their patients but with the complicity of pharmacists. Criminal association, fraud, corruption, forgery, money laundering and comparative crimes. Almost sixty hearings, 410 witnesses heard (of which 350 from January to last July), a panel of judges changed several times, 101 defendants, a rhythm of two hearings a week. These are the main numbers of the process which started on 12 November 2008 and concluded yesterday
