Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531497
4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 JANUARY 2025 Malta Enterprise withheld three due diligence reports on investors in Vitals hospital deal, Azzopardi says FORMER MP and lawyer Jason Azzopardi claimed on Tuesday three due diligence reports re- garding investors in the Vitals hospital deal had been withheld from a Magisterial Inquiry by Malta Enterprise. Criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri, for- mer minister Konrad Mizzi and others resumed on Tues- day morning before the Court presided over by Magistrate Rachel Montebello. Azzopardi took to the stand, recalling that around three weeks ago, he had been ap- proached by individuals who had not only authorised, but asked him to hand due dili- gence reports to the Court. He held that he had been ap- proached under professional secrecy and that the original documents were, and still are at Malta Enterprise. The reports concerned Vitals investors Mohammed Shoaib Walajahi and Shaukat Ali Chaudry. Responding to questions posed by lawyer Gianella De Marco, Azzopardi confirmed that he had not seen the orig- inal documents nor had he made verifications with Malta Enterprise. He stated that he received the documents electronically and printed them himself. Lawyer Stefano Filletti con- tinued the cross-examination, asking how the individuals in question obtained the docu- ments. Azzopardi responded that he would effectively reveal their identity were he to answer. When asked if the individu- als were Malta Enterprise em- ployees, Azzopardi once again affirmed that their identity was covered by legal profes- sional privilege. Azzopardi also commented that he had been approached inasmuch as the individuals 'could not stand that such doc- uments were withheld from the inquiring magistrate'. Defence lawyer Chris Cilia, representing Mtrace, asked where the documents were be- ing held at Malta Enterprise. Azzopardi once again cited le- gal professional privilege, stat- ing that he could not answer such a question. Cilia remarked that the doc- uments were still at Malta Enterprise during a search which had been carried out with body-cams, and that an- swering his question would not breach legal professional privilege. Harbinson informs Court he cannot come to Malta to testify 'any time soon' Following Azzopardi's testi- mony, the Court continued to discuss the testimony of Jeremy Harbinson, a court-appointed expert for the inquiry. The Court noted that it had received communication from Harbinson who informed the court that he could not tes- tify in proceedings 'any time soon'. The Attorney General remarked that its application remained valid, and that it was requesting that Harbinson be permitted to testify through videoconference. Harbinson had been given un- til today to present a document justifying his inability to physi- cally testify in proceedings. At this juncture, defence law- yer Vincent Galea suggested that the Court could travel to Northern Ireland if the wit- ness could not travel to Malta – a suggestion refused by the Court. Lawyers Edward Gatt and Gianella De Marco also made submissions regarding the prospect of Harbinson testify- ing online. Whilst Gatt remarked that the accused had been arraigned on the basis of his report, De Marco expressed concern about the 'virus that hit the court experts', noting that all the experts seemed reluctant to testify. Lawyer Stefano Filletti ob- served that experts Harbinson, Samuel Sittlington and Miro- slava Milenović are the 'alpha and omega' of the proceedings, further noting that perjury laws do not apply to situations wherein witnesses testify via videoconference. Reference was also made to a YouTube video in which Har- binson allegedly claims that he had received a substantial cheque in the post with which he bought a ranch in Slovakia. The case was adjourned to 24 February. AG lawyers Francesco Refalo, Rebecca Spiteri and Shelby Aq- uilina, together with inspector Wayne Rodney Borg prosecut- ed. Lawyers Shazoo Ghaznavi, Alex Scerri Herrera, Jessica Formosa, and Jeannine Depas- quale represented Bhatti and Ali. Lawyers Gianella De Marco and Charles Mercieca repre- sented David J Meli. Lawyer Stefano Filletti and Franco Debono represented Alfred Camilleri. Lawyers Chris Cilia and Ar- thur Azzopardi represented MTrace. Lawyer Jason Grima repre- sented Christopher Spiteri. Jason Azzopardi He held that he had been approached under professional secrecy and that the original documents were, and still are at Malta Enterprise. PARLIAMENT has paid tribute to Michael Falzon, who died on 5 January 2025. On Tuesday, minister Owen Bonnici, opposition leader Bernard Grech, and speaker Anġlu Farrugia gave their condolensces to Falzon's family who were present in parliament. He was described as a man of great intelligence with a good ability to analyse political situations, as he was praised for always defending the truth. The speakers noted that Falzon's "unique wit" was evident in his contributions as an opinionist. As the speakers thanked Falzon for his service to the country, his loss was outlined as the loss of a man who truly loved his country. An architect by profession, and a MaltaToday col- umnist, Falzon was 79 years old when he passed away. He was elected to parliament for the first time in 1976 with the Nationalist Party and kept being elected at each election until 1996. After the 1987 election victory by the PN, he was ap- pointed infrastructure minister. He subsequently also held the post of environment minister. Parliament pays tribute to Michael Falzon