‘€400 Million Were Not Stolen’ – Joseph Muscat Welcomes Steward Arbitration Decision
Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the conclusion of the government’s international arbitration case with Steward Healthcare dismisses claims that €400 million were stolen from public funds.
“Not only were €400 million not stolen — the Government still owes them €5 million,” Muscat said.
The International Chamber of Commerce dismissed Steward’s claim that the government owed them damages after terminating the concession in the wake of Adrian Delia’s successful constitutional case against the concession.
It ruled that the total benefits received by the Government of Malta at the end of the concession stood at €889,434,091 while the benefits received by Steward Healthcare stand at €884,644,629, with a shortfall of €4.78 million owed to Steward Healthcare.
“This decision should shame those who caused so much harm to our country, including those institutions that were gullible enough to swallow this narrative without the slightest evidence and without seeking expert advice, relying only on shouting and commotion in the most amateurish way,” Muscat said.
“If there had been fraud, the International Tribunal would not have decided that the service provider was still owed money.”
Muscat is facing charges in connection with the concession and said he is bound by the court not to comment on the case. However, he said the ICC’s decision has dismissed claims that he had pocketed money from these “stolen” funds.
“This is only the beginning, not the end, in the pursuit of truth,” he said.