Skanska, the Swedish company that built Mater Dei Hospital, has vehemently refused claims of fraud in the testing of concrete, made by Health Minister Konrad Mizzi.

Dr Mizzi on Sunday lashed out at Skanska for refusing to meet the Attorney General to discuss claims for damages. He pledged the government would fight back “tooth and nail”.

Contacted in Stockholm, a spokesman for Skanska categorically denied there was any fraud adding that “no one has made any claims of fraud with us”.

Asked why the company was refusing to meet the Attorney General, the spokesman said such a meeting “would not be productive” because they did not know exactly what the government was claiming.

“We have not received any claim or detailed information as to how we could be held liable [for any damages],” the spokesman said. “Furthermore, we have an agreement that states that the parties will not be liable whatsoever for all and any further, past, present or future concerns, claims and disputes”.

When this newspaper pointed out that no agreement could override responsibility of a criminal nature, such as fraud, as was being claimed by the government, the spokesman insisted that Skanska was strongly rejecting any fraud allegations.

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