Judge Toni Abela has rejected a request from Opposition leader Bernard Grech and MP Adrian Delia to compel the State Advocate to reclaim funds lost in a fraudulent hospitals deal.
Abela stated that it was beyond the court’s authority to direct the State Advocate’s actions.
The case arose late last year after a court nullified the hospitals deal, declaring it fraudulent. The Opposition MPs sought a court order for the State Advocate to recover up to €400 million in taxpayer money paid to the deal’s concessionaires, initially Vitals and later Steward.
Following the judgment, Grech made a brief statement outside the courthouse, asserting that it was now the State Advocate’s responsibility to pursue legal action to recover the fraudulently spent funds.
He criticised the government for not taking adequate steps to reclaim the money given to the private companies. Grech added that the PN would review the judgment to decide their next steps.
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