Eyebrows were raised, particularly in Italy, with regard to a project to build and run a specialised private hospital at Smart City Malta.
The project, launched last year by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the then health minister Konrad Mizzi, is the brainchild of Synesis Ltd, a company formed by Stephen Carter, a Maltese businessman, and two Rome-based lawyers, Mario Racco and Francesco Rosi.
Giovanni Rusciano, another Italian, is serving as the main consultant behind the Maltese project, although he does not appear as a shareholder.
Both Mr Rosi and Mr Rusciano are closely associated with Rome’s private hospital IDI (Istituto Dermatologico Italiano), which had to be saved by the Vatican from financial collapse three years ago after about €800 million in State funds in exchange for public services disappeared. Hundreds of medical staff were fired due to the ensuing crisis.
According to an investigation by Italian State TV Rai Tre, Mr Rosi used to handle the hospital’s financial arrangements, particularly related to a Church order that once owned the hospital.
Mr Rusciano took care of procurement and tenders.
Mr Rosi was never investigated by the Italian police, but Mr...
