Rosianne Cutajar rejoins Labour parliamentary group
Rosianne Cutajar has rejoined the Labour Party’s parliamentary group over a year after her resignation. Labour MPs were informed of Cutajar’s reinstatement as a Labour MP during a Friday afternoon meeting by the group’s whip, Naomi Cachia. The decision appears to have followed a meeting between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Cutajar at Castille earlier that day, according to sources. Her return will be official once the party executive formally approves it. Cutajar had resigned from the parliamentary group after facing pressure following the release of hundreds of messages between her and Yorgen Fenech.
Forensic accounting experts who assisted in the inquiry into the fraudulent concession of three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare explained why they couldn’t determine the exact amount Shaukat Ali Chaudry earned from the deal. Testifying via video link to the Criminal Court on Friday, forensic accountant Miroslava Milenovic stated that the available data was insufficient to establish a precise figure. The testimony came during a legal challenge by Chaudry and his wife, Aasia Parveen Shaukat, against the €30 million and €20 million asset freezing orders imposed on them. The couple denies charges of money laundering, trading in influence, misappropriation, involvement in a criminal organisation, and corruption related to the now-rescinded hospitals deal, which cost Maltese taxpayers at least €355 million. (Maltatoday)
Kurt Farrugia takes over at Transport Malta
Kurt Farrugia has been appointed chief executive officer at Transport Malta, the agency has confirmed. The former communications head for Joseph Muscat, replaces Colonel Mark Mallia, who was appointed to the post of head of secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister. Farrugia had been at Malta Enterprise since 2019.
