Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, Chris Fearne, tendered his resignation this Friday, following his implication in a massive fraud scandal. In a written letter directed to Prime Minister Robert Abela, Fearne, who insists the allegations against him are unjust, requested a retraction of his nomination for the position of European commissioner. Despite stepping down from his current post, Fearne maintained his belief in his innocence and purported the resignation was not an admittance of guilt, rather a choice brought on by the importance of doing what is right. He expressed his willingness to return to public service if deemed appropriate in the future by Malta’s citizenry. A formal letter provides more details regarding his resignation.
In response, Prime Minister Abela, while endorsing Fearne’s integrity and capability, encouraged him to reflect upon his decision. Abela championed Fearne’s contribution not only as a personal supporting pillar but also as a vital contributor to the country. Abela’s response can be read in full on his Facebook page.
The scandal surfaced amidst allegations of fraud against an adjudication committee, who reportedly wrongfully awarded management rights of Malta state hospitals Gozo, St Luke’s and Karin Grech to Vitals Global Healthcare. These hospitals, which the government previously ran with an approximate annual cost of 70 million euros, were expected to undergo extensive upgrades following a 70 million euro deal with Vitals. However, the agreement collapsed due to a failure in delivering promised improvements, inciting suspicion and sparking allegations of fraud. (timesofmalta.com)
Beyond accruing allegations of scandalous business, Vitals Global Healthcare also received heavy criticism after falling immensely short of their commitment to a 200 million euro advancement of healthcare facilities. For more on this, visit timesofmalta.com .
Importantly, Fearne is not the sole person implicated in this scandal. The central bank governor, 14 other individuals, and two companies found themselves tied to the unfolding case. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Fearne continues to functions as the deputy leader of the Labour Party under Abela, as highlighted in a recent meeting. Additional details on this can be found here.
More comprehensive coverage of the issue can be found on JURIST – News.