Former Maltese premier Joseph Muscat and current Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne are facing charges in a hospital privatisation scandal that has rocked the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. The charges include accepting bribes, corruption in public office, and money laundering.
Muscat, along with his ex-minister Konrad Mizzi, and former chief of staff Keith Schembri, have all been charged with various offenses related to the scandal. Fearne and former finance minister Edward Scicluna are also among those charged with fraud, misappropriation, and fraudulent gain.
The scandal dates back to 2015 when Muscat’s government passed management of three public hospitals to a private company with no healthcare experience. The company later sold the concession without making promised investments, leading to allegations of fraudulent behavior and collusion with government officials.
The charges come after a long-running investigation that has shaken Malta’s political establishment. Muscat, who resigned in 2019 following the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has vehemently denied the accusations against him, calling them “lies” and “fantasies.”
The case has drawn attention to corruption and malpractice in Malta’s healthcare system, sparking outrage among the public and civil society groups. The charges against high-ranking officials like Muscat and Fearne mark a significant moment in the country’s fight against corruption and abuse of power.