Second set of arraignments in Vitals case ends up annulled - case deferred to June 11

Two former senior ministers and three permanent secretaries faced charges in connection with the hospitals scandal on Wednesday, but a marathon 11-hour ended up nullified after one of the accused was absent from the court room.

Former health minister Chris Fearne and Central Bank governor Edward Scicluna led a list of 14 officials charged with 'lesser crimes' as the hospitals debacle reaches a critical phase. All pleaded not guilty.

But an 11-hour sitting ended in a farce after it transpired that one of the defendants representing DF Advocates was not notified about the proceedings. The AG lawyers argued that the company had been notified through its owners who were present in the room but Magistrate Leonard Caruana agreed with the defence that this was not the same as notifying the company

The long session in court also confirmed that the prosecutions were relying on the strength of the magisterial inquiry into the hospitals debacle and there was no police report to back the findings. 

The session was adjourned to June 11 at 11am.