The Pilatus Bank whistleblower, who fled Malta claiming she feared for her life, is likely to receive asylum in Greece, according to a Cypriot news website.

Maria Efimova was at the heart of a political storm last year when she was identified by Daphne Caruana Galizia as a source into claims that the prime minister's wife had a secret company in Panama where she received funds from Azerbaijan. Strongly denying the claims, Joseph and Michelle Muscat resorted to court action.

Ms Efimova, a Russian national whose husband is Cypriot, surrendered to Greek authorities on Monday. She is wanted in Malta to face fraud charges after a complaint by Pilatus Bank. The arrest warrant was issued after she failed to attend court hearings into a criminal complaint filed by Pilatus Bank.

Ms Efimova surrendered to Greek authorities on Monday

The Cyprus Business Mail quoted an MEP saying the matter is on the desk of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

A group of MEPs from different political groups, including Cypriot MEP Takis Hadjigeorgiou, and Portugal’s Ana Gomes, called on Greek authorities on Thursday to protect ms Efimova and grant her asylum.

A source in the Cypriot police said that Efimova was likely to receive asylum from Greece, the website said.

In January, the Cypriot police said they had issued a European warrant against Ms Efimova after a previous employer filed a complaint alleging she had embezzled funds four years ago when she had worked for a Limassol-based, Russian-owned company.

"In that case, all procedures will stop," the police source added.

Ms Efimova has denied the Cypriot claims, saying it was part of a plot to damage her reputation because of her whistle-blowing activities in Malta.

Alexandros Papasteriopoulos, an Athens-based lawyer defending Ms Efimova contradicted the Cypriot police.

He told Greece's news site tvxs.gr his client was facing only one warrant, issued by Malta for "misdemeanours" involving an alleged misappropriation of an amount of €5,500 and defamation.

He added that Ms Efimova used the funds to buy air tickets for herself and her family to leave Malta after receiving the approval from her superiors. 

The Russian national worked at Pilatus Bank for three months. Last August, she moved with her family to Crete, saying she feared for her life if she stayed in Malta.

An Athens-based journalist said on Thursday that Ms Efimova is being held in the women's wing of the Korydallos prison, in the metropolitan area of Athens.

 

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