Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530881
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 DECEMBER 2024 2024 LOOKING BACK Vitals deal January 26 January: Joseph Muscat lobbies for Robert Abela to renegotiate the Steward Hospitals deal July 7 July: NAO report says Vitals should have been disqualified from concession bid. Robert Abela endorses NAO report, pledges to take necessary action. He does not rule out rescinding contract. 2021 June Vitals in Court: Construction permits for jobs meant to be carried out by Vitals Global Healthcare on three Maltese hospitals had expired with works not even starting August Steward file unredacted copy of all project-related agreements and side letters in open court November 16 November: Judge Francesco Depasquale accepts Adrian Delia's request to include documents, which were described by Steward Healthcare as "fraudulent", in his case 2022 7 February: Steward President Nadine Delicata admits that Vitals were handed huge amounts of tax February Azzopardi and Nicole Meilak 13 January: Robert Abela sworn in as PM February Steward writes to Abela questioning the way the Maltese government supervised the PPP February 3 February: UĦM start industrial action at the three hospitals 2022 7 February: Steward President Nadine Delicata admits that Vitals were handed huge amounts of tax money, describing the concession as 'ill-thought-out'. She says the concession was made worse by the fact that investors created a raft of companies, shifting assets between them and burning through funds. 19 January: Police raid former PM Joseph Muscat's Burmarrad property and Sa Maison office January February 26 January: Steward Healthcare refuse to pay €36.5 million tax bill to Inland Revenue Department 17 February: Steward Malta cedes case in which it was challenging the expectations of a €6 million pay-out to a former Vitals Global Healthcare investor June 24 July: Medical supplier and Technoline director Ivan Vassallo, who features in a corruption and money-laundering probe linked to the Vitals hospitals deal, files judicial protest against Vitals July 24 July: Reports reveal €21 million in government funds flowed into Vitals Global Healthcare Management, before being sent back to its Maltese parent company, Bluestone Investments between 2016 and first two months of 2018 31 July: Reports reveal interior design company 3City Design, run by Keith Schembri's wife Josette, received tens of thousands of euros in payments from Vitals and Steward in November 2017. She denied the claims August 30 August: Nurses' union slams Steward's €6 million profit, saying cash could have built new mental health hospital October 25 October: Adrian Delia's lawyer argues no due diligence was carried out on original concessionaire Vitals 2023 January 30 January: Steward Healthcare sued for €2.8 million unpaid brokerage fees over hospitals deal by two Pakistani brokers February 15 February: Steward wants government to investigate MaltaToday managing editor Matthew Vella over a report in this newspaper outlining the company's opaque ownership structure 24 February: Judge annuls hospitals deal, slams Vitals, Steward and government in damning ruling March 1 March: Court upholds government request to shorten appeal timeframe on Vitals-Steward case 7 March: Robert Abela says there is no documented legal advice at OPM on Vitals deal 24 February: Health Minister Chris Fearne says court judgment absolves him from responsibility on hospitals deal 15 March: Steward appeals Maltese court verdict that annulled hospitals concession, requests ECJ ruling May 17 May: Media revelations show how Joseph Muscat netted payments from Swiss firm formerly called VGH 21 March: Government kicks out Steward, immediately takes over hospitals April 15 March: Government wins first battle in international arbitration case brought by Steward Healthcare June May 17 May: Media revelations show how Joseph Muscat netted payments from Swiss firm formerly called VGH Europe after stepping down from prime minister 18 May: Muscat wants removal of Vitals inquiry magistrate Gabriella Vella 21 March: Government kicks out Steward, immediately takes over hospitals April 15 March: Government wins first battle in international arbitration case brought by Steward Healthcare 31 May: Chris Fearne's campaign manager Carmen Ciantar tenders 'suspension' to fight bribery allegations published in obscure Pakistani news sites June 2 June: Carmen Ciantar files legal request to testify in Vitals inquiry 3 June: Ram Tumuluri denies making payments to Carmen Ciantar in VGH bribery allegations July 31 July: Carmen Ciantar returns to FMS as CEO after she is cleared of allegations October 23 October: Appeals Court dismisses Steward appeal, confirms judgment that rescinded the hospitals contract, describing it as fraudulent 23 October: Steward Health Care says contractual milestones were already missed when it took over Vitals December 10 December: PN announces it will sue for return of €400 million paid out to Steward hospitals concession 2024 January 9 January: Court rejects Muscat's request to appeal decision to refuse his demand for exhibition of Vitals inquiry application 11 January: Muscat lawyer complains 'political' Vitals inquiry untouched by courts' caseload reassignment February 15 February: Court upholds government's request to be admitted as a party in the PN case against State Advocate over hospitals deal March 13 March: State Advocate insists he cannot seek damages or prosecute over Vitals collusion findings 25 March: Joseph Muscat withdraws lawsuit claiming breach of fundamental rights in Vitals magisterial inquiry April 25 April: Magistrate Gabriella Vella concludes Vitals inquiry and passes on her findings and 78 boxes of evidence to the attorney general 28 April: Abela warns judiciary not to engage in 'political terrorism' May 6 May: Police file criminal charges against several individuals and companies in connection to hospitals inquiry. Suspects will be arraigned by summons not under arrest 7 May: Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi are to be charged with money laundering, bribery and corruption. Chris Fearne and Edward Scicluna are also charged with misappropriation and fraudulent gain 10 May: Chris Fearne resigns from Labour Cabinet, withdraws Commissioner nomination 28 May: Muscat and others charged in connection to the hospitals deal fraud June 9 June: Labour sees its supermajority slashed by 30,000 votes Steward saga under Abela