'Missing' Vitals expert Harbinson stopped at Dutch border in May, court told
Jeremy Harbinson was the leading financial crimes expert engaged in a years-long inquiry into the failed Vitals-Steward hospitals deal.
Forensic accountant Jeremy Harbinson, a court expert who has repeatedly refused to testify in proceedings related to the Vitals hospitals deal, was stopped for border checks in the Netherlands back in May, a court heard on Wednesday.
Harbinson was the leading financial crimes expert engaged in a years-long inquiry into the failed Vitals-Steward hospitals deal.
Last year, Harbinson refused to testify in Malta out of fear for his safety. He said the experiences and insights he gained over the past years meant he would “never return to Malta”.
He previously argued that his report was never meant to be used directly as a basis for prosecutions.
The inquiry recommended criminal charges against former prime minister Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and several other people, ranging from politicians to civil servants, lawyers and entrepreneurs. All are pleading not guilty to charges.
Harbinson has also refused to testify, even remotely, in the proceedings.
In January, Magistrate Leonard Caruana ordered the police commissioner “to carry out all necessary investigations to determine the potential whereabouts of Jeremy Harbinson”.
Superintendent Mario Cuschieri took the witness stand to provide an update on efforts to locate Harbinson on Wednesday.
Magistrate Lara Lanfranco heard how police were informed that on May 10, Harbinson was stopped for border control checks by police at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.
Cuschieri told the court Harbinson was stopped during a check as he was “passing a frontier”. He said it was not clear whether Harbinson was leaving or entering the country.
He said police were informed his residency remained the same as the one previously reported in Northern Ireland.
Cuschieri said local police were informed after police had previously issued a blue diffusion through Interpol, which alerts law enforcement authorities in approximately 196 countries to assist in locating a person.
The superintendent said that, at this stage, the police were unable to take further action and that all information had been passed on to the courts.
The court heard that Harbinson’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Defence lawyer Franco Debono asked for clarification on when Harbinson was stopped at the airport and whether the police knew where he was going.
Cuschieri once again repeated that Harbinson was attending border checks.
The defence asked whether Cuschieri had received any information from Harbinson’s representatives or Harbinson himself.
The superintendent said police had received no communication from Harbinson’s defence or from the expert.
The case was suspended to October 14 at noon.
AG lawyers Francesco Refalo, Shelby Aquilina and Rebekah Gatt are prosecuting the Vitals case.
Lawyers Vince Galea, Giannella De Marco, Franco Debono, Arthur Azzopardi, Stefano Filletti, Edward Gatt, Charles Mercieca, Kathleen Calleja Grima, Shaun Zammit, Shazoo Ghaznavi, Jessica Formosa, Luke Dalli, Mark Vassallo, Alex Scerri Herrera, Joseph Mizzi, Jonathan Thompson, Chris Cilia, Stephen Tonna Lowell, Ishmael Psaila, Charlon Gouder and Etienne Borg Ferranti are representing the defendants.