The 72-year-old businessman’s son, Asad Ali, is also being accused of crimes in connection with the deal set to privatise three hospitals, however, he is being charged separately.

Prosecutors are arguing that the family used companies controlled by Ali – Mount Everest FZ LLC and Global Assets Holdings – to acquire illicit profits, amounting to several millions, from the deal which have now been annulled. 

Ali appeared in court as a representative of the two companies that were being represented by lawyers Shazoo Ghaznavi and Jessica Formosa.

Investigators uncovered documents that display his connection to the deal with his wife acting as a director of Vitals’ holding company, Bluestone Investments and Ali being a consultant to Vitals on a €100,000-a-month contract.

Investigators believe he was the company’s secret majority holder.

Meanwhile, his son made money by providing the hospitals with IT and other services.

Prosecutors further urged for a freezing order on Ali’s assets of up to €30 million as well as one on Aasia Parveen’s assets of up to €20 million. They further asked to prohibit the pair from discussing the case in public.

The defence objected to the freezing order requests and Magistrate Montebello said she should decree on that later today.

A magisterial inquiry into the deal was concluded earlier this year, months after the hospitals’ privatisation deal was found to be fraudulent by the court.

The Ali family are just a few of dozens being charged with crimes related to this case, including former prime minister Joseph Muscat, former minister Konrad Mizzi, and former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.

Featured image: screengrab from Newsbook footage.

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