Abela 'ultra comfortable' to appoint 'innocent' Fearne despite criminal charges

Robert Abela said he felt "ultra comfortable" with appointing Chris Fearne to cabinet and declared he is "innocent" of the criminal charges against him over the Vitals hospitals scandal.

Fearne stands charged with fraud  in connection with the deal to privatise three hospitals. The charges prompted him to resign as health minister and deputy prime minister in 2024.

He was sworn in as Foreign and European Affairs Minister on Wednesday.

Abela insisted on Fearne’s innocence during Thursday’s news conference.

"I appointed him to foreign affairs at a sensitive time," he said. "That shows my absolute trust in his skills and competence, and in his innocence in the proceedings against him."

He said he vouches for Fearne and the way he handled the hospitals deal. 

“I know that he always made decisions in people’s interest, so I had no hesitation, even after what has resulted, or rather not resulted, during the court proceedings," he said. 

Abela said little to no information has come out in court about possible fraudulent behaviour on Fearne’s part.

“My judgement was based on this fact,” he said.

Fearne has always protested his innocence but stepped down after a court found there was enough prima facie evidence against him for a criminal case over hospital contracts to continue. 

Rosianne Cutajar kisses the cross as she is sworn in to office as equality minister. Photo: Jonathan Borg

He also defended giving Rosianne Cutajar a ministerial position in charge of equality. “I don’t understand why there is any doubt in my appointing her. She has a portfolio that, for my government, is very important.”

Cutajar resigned in 2023 after a series of WhatsApp chats between her and businessman Yorgen Fenech were leaked online.

They showed how she was exchanging thousands of messages with him at a time when she was publicly dismissing calls to investigate suspected corruption linked to him.

The messages, dating back to 2019, also showed how she wanted to become "a consultant" with ITS after failing to be promoted to cabinet at the time. “I don’t care, everybody pigs out,” she famously wrote.