Orchestra Chair resigns following criminal charges on hospitals deal

Aqra bil-Malti

The Chair of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Alfred Camilleri, has resigned as he faces criminal charges on the hospitals deal following a magisterial inquiry.

Camilleri, who until a few years ago served as the finance ministry’s top civil servant, is being charged with fraud and dereliction of duty, among other charges, following the magisterial inquiry into the fraudulent Vitals/Steward hospitals deal.

He was the finance ministry permanent secretary when the deal was negotiated and throughout most of the concession period.

Camilleri, along with two other civil servants, Health Ministry Permanent Secretary (now retired) Joseph Rapa and Economy Ministry Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi, are being accused of turning a blind eye when the multi-million-euro deal was struck.

He was one of the few permanent secretaries to operate under the PN and survive the 2013 change of government.

Camilleri is accused of having committed crimes he was duty-bound to prevent. He has denied any knowledge of what was going on at the time of the deal.

Camilleri, 64, sits on the Curia’s financial committee, which, together with the Archbishop, makes the organisation’s most important financial decisions.

Camilleri is also a member of the boards of directors of two listed companies owned by the Corinthia Group.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said in a statement on Wednesday that Camilleri “was, is and will remain a true friend loyal to the art and culture sector”.

Bonnici added that Camilleri implemented significant changes while occupying the role.

Camilleri will be replaced by Odette Vassallo.

                           

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9 Comments
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makjavel
makjavel
3 months ago

But Scicluna blackmails Robert Abela , because Robert knows what Scicluna Knows about him.

Charles
Charles
3 months ago

The only crooked greedy pig who won’t do the right thing and resign is scicluna! One foot in the grave and doesn’t realize money is not fire proof!

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
3 months ago
Reply to  Charles

“One foot in the grave” Ha, Ha! We should declare a public holiday once he passes triugh the gates of Hades…!

Carmelo borg
3 months ago

Hasra li ALFRED gabuh fix gabuh. KOLLU tort TAL VERGNI SCICLUNA.
TIFTAKRU IL FRAZI “LOOK AT MY EYES” tal KORROT KONRAD MIZZI u FREDU WIEGBU
“JIEN MA INHARES LEJN WICC HADD”.
ISSA LI MA KIENX SOD BIZ ZEJJED “HE HAS TO FACE THE MUSIC”

GEORGE CREMONA
GEORGE CREMONA
3 months ago
Reply to  Carmelo borg

Camilleri fi zmien li kien jokkupa l istess pozizzjoni amministrazzjonijiet Nazzjonalisti dejjem kien izjed minn rigoruz f’xogholu. Qatt hadt ma ndahallu jew prova fixxklu fi dmirijietu. Jidher pero li ma baqax l istess Alfred Camilleri wara l bidla tal Gvern fl 2013. Kien messu rrizenja dak inhar li ra bidla fl attitudni li max zmien wasslet ghal dan il kollass li ghandna madwarna. Mhux issa li ggarraf kollox.
Wara l patata hemm.

Leonard Schembri
Leonard Schembri
3 months ago

Hopefully, Camilleri, Rapa and Mizzi will spin all the beans in court about Scicluna, the Kitchen Cabinet and the rest of the gang if the right questions are asked by the AG.

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
3 months ago

As if the AG is going to ask any awkward questions – FORGET IT!

Emmanuel
Emmanuel
3 months ago

I doubt what qualifications Mr. Camilleri had to chair the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. I am sure there were better qualified persons to fill the post,

Mark Jones
Mark Jones
3 months ago
Reply to  Emmanuel

He was good at blowing his own trumpet, I guess

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