At the end of 2021, the Times of Malta reported that Muscat had received €60,000 from Accutor AG, a Swiss company linked to the American group Steward Health Care, which took over the hospital contract from Vitals Global Healthcare in 2018.
Muscat – who has been accused of money laundering, fraud and conspiracy, as well as accepting bribes and corruption in public office – has always denied any wrongdoing.
Central Bank of Malta Governor Edward Scicluna and Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, who both served under Muscat, also face charges. Fearne, who has denied any wrongdoing, was Malta’s choice for the next European Commission and was seen as one of the favorites to replace Stella Kyriakides as health commissioner after the European elections. After the charges were filed, Fearne resigned from the government and ended her bid to be the country’s next European commissioner.
The defendants are not under arrest and Tuesday’s court proceedings are the first part of a trial that could last years.
Politices
