The whistleblower who ran way from Malta last year fearing for her life has turned herself in to Greek police, the Times of Malta reports.

Maria Efimova, a former employee of Pilatus Bank, was behind allegations that the Panama company Egrant was owned by the Prime Minister’s wife, Michelle Muscat.

Efimova surrendered to police voluntarily over the arrest warrant issued by the Maltese authorities, the report says.

She went to Athens recently to vote in the Russian elections. Greek police have confirmed she has been transferred to the courts.

Efimova left Malta in June after informing the courts about purported intimidation attempts against her family in Russia.

She is facing fraud charges in Malta on the basis of a criminal complaint filed by Pilatus Bank.

A European and international arrest warrant was issued by the Maltese courts shortly after she left the island.

MEP statement

Members of the ad-hoc Rule of Law Delegation to Malta said:

"It has come to our attention that Russian whistleblower Maria Efimova, in fear for her life and the security of her family, walked into the Greek police, in Athens, last night, asking for protection."

"Maria Efimova is a material witness in investigations on corruption and money laundering in Malta, involving Pilatus Bank and government members exposed by Panama Papers and Malta's FIU."

"We call on the Greek authorities to provide Maria Efimova with protection and safeguard of her security and that of her family and to not return her to Malta."

The statement was signed by S&D MEP Ana Gomes (Chairman, ad-hoc delegation to Malta), EPP MEP David Casa, ECR MEP Monica Macovei, GUE-NGL MEP Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Greens-EFA MEP Sven Giegold