Robert Abela Threw Former Cabinet Members ‘Under The Bus’ In Vitals Scandal, Bernard Grech Says
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that Prime Minister Robert Abela has thrown the former cabinet members “under the bus” after submitting a note to court attempting to avoid political responsibility for the Vitals Healthcare scandal.
In a continuation of the case initiated by the Nationalist Party, a signed statement was presented in Court in which Abela stated that he entered the cabinet in 2020, attempting to relinquish himself of political responsibility when the fraud in three stages of the agreement process, the PN said.
“This means that Robert Abela doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” Grech said on a Facebook live fresh out of court.
“In this note, he said that he was not part of the cabinet at the time, I need to remind that Abela was present and also the legal consultant of Joseph Muscat meaning that he knew what was going on very well.”
“Abela threw all the politicians who were in the cabinet when the fraud was committed under the bus. This includes Chris Fearne, David Cardona, Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Edward Scicluna.”
Grech further explained that despite submitting a few documents, the government, which had to provide evidence in the case, asked for more time.
“They want to continue wasting time. Then we ask why legal processes are lengthened and then they attack the courts for taking too long. It’s clear that the intentions of the government are to lengthen the legal process as much as possible.”
Grech further censured Abela’s repeated attacks on the court, calling them “acts of coup t’état on our judiciary” and saying that he has forgotten his obligation to ensure that these attacks do not happen, let alone not carry them out himself.
“There were attacks on the inquiring magistrate in the case of Jean Paul Sofia, an attack on the magistrate Gabriella Vella a few months ago and again now: they’re continuing.”
“This is dangerous. Abela wants to decide these things himself. The separation of power has finished here. He pretends that he has to be the only judge. These are all abuses, dangerous acts, and acts of coup detats on our judiciary.”
Former opposition leader Adrian Delia filed a court case against the government over the Vitals-Steward hospitals deal.
Judge Francesco Depasquale ruled fraud was committed during three stages of the process – before the contract was signed, when it was being negotiated and when Steward took over. He ordered that the St Luke’s, Karin Grech and Gozo General Hospitals be returned to the government.
Earlier this week, Muscat was included in a long list of people and companies suspected by the Attorney General of money laundering in connection with the Vitals-Steward magisterial inquiry.
Other key figures in the list include former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, former minister Konrad Mizzi, former Nexia BT partners Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, Technoline managing director Ivan Vassallo, Ram Tumuluri and several original Vitals investors, Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre, Steward International CEO Armin Ernst, and former Allied Newspapers managing director Adrian Hillman.
Judge Edwina Grima ordered several banks and companies to give police access to their funds, assets and other relevant information.
The suspects have also been given 24 hours to declare the source of their wealth to the Attorney General in writing and have been banned from selling their assets.
Muscat and Prime Minister Robert Abela have come out strongly against magistrate Gabriella Vella, warning that the timing of the inquiry’s conclusion, a few weeks before the MEP and local council elections, indicates it was politically motivated.
Earlier today, Muscat revealed he’s asked the Police Commissioner to call him in to answer “every question he might have as soon as possible”.
This, Muscat said, was done because he has “nothing to hide” and has no issue with being “absolutely transparent”, calling this case another Egrant.
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