Joseph Muscat Speaks Out On Steward Healthcare Ruling

In a statement posted to social media, former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that ‘not only were €400 million not stolen, but the government still owes them €5 million.’

‘The decision by the International Arbitration Tribunal, composed by truly world recognised international experts, states that not only were €400 million not stolen in the hospital concession, but the Government still has to pay the service provider almost another €5 million’, said Muscat.

Muscat said that 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.’

‘If there had been fraud, the International Tribunal would not have decided that the service provider was still owed money.’

‘I am bound by the Court not to comment on the case against me, in which I am accused of supposedly taking money from these “stolen” funds, a lie that the International Tribunal, which does not look at faces and has no political agenda, has now thrown out.’

This comes after it was revealed that the government of Malta won an international case against Steward Healthcare.

It was confirmed that the government prevailed in arbitration proceedings held by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), where Steward had demanded around €148 million from Malta.

The tribunal rejected Steward’s claim, saying the government did not unlawfully terminate the hospitals deal and doesn’t owe Steward any damages.

According to the ICC’s decision, both sides benefited from the deal, with Malta getting around €889 million worth of services and Steward getting around €884 million in payments, meaning a shortfall of just €4.7 million that the government must pay Steward.

#MaltaDaily