Malta loses its Commissioner nominee to corruption scandal

Fearne sent a missive to Prime Minister Robert Abela communicating his determination aft it was revealed connected Wednesday (8 May) that his sanction was included successful nan chargesheet related to nan privatisation of 3 authorities hospitals successful a woody betwixt nan Maltese authorities and Vitals Global Healthcare, making love to nan clip erstwhile Fearne was wellness curate successful nan land republic, a station he held until January this year.

“Although I americium not privy to nan contents of nan magisterial enquiry and frankincense unaware of what nan alleged charges against maine are based on, I cognize what I person done and haven’t done arsenic a Minister,” he wrote successful nan letter, stating he is definite that nan tribunal proceedings will corroborate his innocence.

Maltese media reported that Fearne told his parliamentary group that he would beryllium consenting to resign if his sanction is cited by nan magistrate handling nan case. In his letter, he cited this pledge, adding that he had “already fixed impervious that he is not 1 to cling to power”.

Despite being charged by nan prosecutors and having resigned from his authorities position, Fearne continues to bask nan assurance of nan Maltese Prime Minister, Robert Abela, who responded to Fearne's missive successful a station connected Facebook, asking him to reconsider his determination and praising his integrity and ability.

“At nan astir difficult moments for our country, not only did I find a enarthrosis to thin on, but nan state benefited greatly from your capabilities. This was besides noted astatine an world level,” Abela wrote successful nan post.

Opposition leader Bernard Grech condemned Abela’s connection successful a abstracted Facebook station saying that nan premier curate was incorrect “to insist that those authorities precocious officials facing criminal charges should stay successful their positions”. Doing truthful undermined Maltese institutions, Grech said.

MEP David Casa (Malta/EPP) reacted to Fearne’s resignation connected X saying he “finally did nan correct thing, placing nan bully of nan state earlier himself” and called for Edward Scicluna, Malta’s Central Bank governor, to do nan same.

Resignation whitethorn not beryllium nan last connection connected Fearne's Commissioner candidacy, however, since he concluded his missive by stating that if, pursuing nan tribunal case, nan state calls connected him to service again, it will find him ready.

Joseph Muscat, Malta’s erstwhile premier minister, Keith Schembri, his erstwhile main of staff, and Konrad Mizzi, erstwhile wellness curate were besides named on pinch Scicluna successful criminal charges revenge by prosecutors connected Monday.

The scandal

In 2015, nan Muscat authorities signed a statement pinch Vitals Global Healthcare to run 3 authorities hospitals. VGH later sold nan concession to Steward Health Care, a infirmary usability that owns 30 hospitals successful nan United States. The institution revenge for bankruptcy connected Monday aft months of financial problems.

The investigation into VGH first began successful 2019, to measure nan domiciled played by Joseph Muscat and his authorities successful nan deal.

In 2023, a tribunal ruling annulled nan original deal, concluding that Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Health Care had grounded to meet their contractual obligations, that nan woody was fraudulent and that nan authorities officials progressive had acted against nan nationalist liking during negotiations.