Finance Minister Edward Scicluna has asked the Auditor General to carry out an investigation in light of the findings of a report into structural defects at Mater Dei Hospital which concluded that the certification of the concrete was fraudulent.

The report recommended that its findings should be handed over to the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General, which the government has already done, and possibly the Auditor General, to advise the government on any possible criminal and legal action.

A thorough investigation should be held

Prof. Scicluna said the findings by retired judge Philip Sciberras raised significant doubts on the levels of good governance, transparency and sound financial management followed during the process leading to the design, building, execution, certification, payment, completion and eventual closure of the entire Mater Dei Hospital project, primarily between 1989 and 2011. Doubts are also raised on whether the applicable national and EU procurement and financial directives and regulations were adhered to and whether the cost of the project presents value for money when compared to good-practice (hospital) projects in Europe.

“It is the government’s view that for the sake of clarity, transparency, fiscal and regulatory accountability, a thorough investigation of the above mentioned processes of the MDH project should be held,” the minister said.