Louis Galea denies knowledge of alleged fraud in Mater Dei concrete

Former health minister Louis Galea has denied having been aware of the alleged fraudulent concrete being supplied on site of the Mater Dei Hospital back in 1996, when he was responsible for the Foundation for Medical Services.

But he also said that he did not agree with political responsibility being shouldered for fraud that was “completely unknown to the political authorities”.

The damning inquiry led by retired judge Philip Sciberras revealed that Galea had received a letter pointing towards a number of deficiencies but no action was taken.

But Galea, who was health minister up to October 1996 during the first phase of construction of the hospital, stated that neither the FMSS, nor the government were aware of the alleged fraud.

“Government, the FMSS board and myself acted diligently and as reasonably and objectively as possible to ensure that an adequate control framework was in place and implemented; no collusion at all ever existed by myself, or to my knowledge by the members of the FMSS board at the time I was involved, in any improper or illegal act as the report attempts to imply in conclusion 5 of its report.”

According to the report, a witness speaks of ‘direct political intervention’ in the choice of suppliers.

But Galea said that no political responsibility could be borne for the “unknown fraud”.

“Fraud by its very nature is intended to deceive or override controls and should be unreservedly pursued. As a result, responsibility in this case should be borne by those allegedly involved in the fraudulent supply or testing of poor quality concrete.”

The former minister, now a member of the European Court of Auditors, said he would collaborate fully with the authorities but that he had reservations on the inquiry itself.

He said there was a lack of evidence backing up certain statements made by a number of witnesses, as well as lack of evidence backing up certain conclusions expressed by the board of inquiry.