Chris Fearne, Edward Scicluna to be charged with fraud over hospitals inquiry

Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and Governor of the Central Bank of Malta Edward Scicluna are to be charged with fraud and misappropriation over the Vitals inquiry.

Fearne and Scicluna are among 14 officials and two companies listed in a second charge sheet that was filed in court on Monday.

This list also includes two former permanent secretaries – Alfred Camilleri and Joseph Rapa, and one current permanent secretary – Ronald Mizzi. It also includes six lawyers - Kevin Deguara, Kenneth Deguara, Jean Carl Farrugia, Aron Mifsud Bonnici, Deborah Anne Chappell and Bradley Gatt and adjudication committee members James Camenzuli, Manuel Castagna and Robert Borg. All people listed in this second charge sheet are to be charged with fraud.

Meanwhile, Fearne, Scicluna, Rapa, Camilleri, Mizzi and Chappell will also be facing charges of misappropriation.

Chappell, Kenneth and Kevin Deguara, Farrugia, will face money laundering charges.

Kevin Deguara, Farrugia, Chappell, Castagna and Mifsud Bonnici, face charges of criminal association.

DF Advocates and DF Corporate Advisory are also cited. They served as legal advisers to Vitals Global Healthcare and medical supplier Technoline.

Freezing orders have also been requested against Chappell, Kevin and Kenneth Deguara, Farrugia and the companies DF Advocates and DF Corporate Advisory.

Chappell’s freezing order is worth €40 million, Farrugia and Kevin Deguara’s freezing orders are worth €20 million each, while Kenneth Deguara’s freezing order is worth €14 million.  The two companies have had €20 million each frozen as well.

In the first charge sheet former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as well as former minister Konrad Mizzi, will face charges of accepting bribes and corruption, while Keith Schembri, who was Joseph Muscat's Chief of Staff when he was prime minister, will face charges relating to the solicitation of bribes and abuse of office.

Brian Tonna and Karl Cini will be charged together along with Nexia BT with assisting in crimes. David Joseph Meli - legal representative of Steward Management Ltd, meanwhile, is accused of corrupting public officials.

The court is being asked to impose freezing orders on Muscat, Mizzi and Schembri, as well as Adrian Hillman and Pierre Sladden, to the tune of €30 million each.