Maltese Bank Chief Refuses to Resign Amid Corruption Case

Edward Scicluna, the governor of Malta's central bank, has announced his intention to remain in office despite facing criminal proceedings related to the controversial Vitals deal. Scicluna claims that the case against him is politically motivated and expresses confidence in proving his innocence. He is one of 15 defendants implicated in the case, which has drawn in significant figures from Malta's political landscape, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and former European commissioner nominee Chris Fearne. The Court of Magistrates has determined that there is sufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings against Scicluna and others, including allegations of fraud linked to the Vitals Global Healthcare deal. The court's decree suggests that Scicluna and Fearne did not adequately challenge the deal during cabinet discussions, despite being aware of its alleged deficiencies. While Scicluna's defense argues that he sought to halt payments to the involved parties, the court contends that his actions were likely motivated by a desire to formalize agreements with the firms involved. Currently, Scicluna is the only defendant still holding a public office, as Fearne resigned from his deputy prime minister role earlier this year. The future of Scicluna's position remains uncertain, with the next court session scheduled for August. He emphasized the sensitivity of the central bank governor role and referenced other central bank officials, like Slovakian governor Peter Kažimír, who have maintained their positions amid legal challenges.