Joseph Muscat has been dealt another legal blow after a court rejected his attempt to force police to prosecute Serbian forensic accounting expert Miroslava Milenovic, whose work played a key role in the hospitals inquiry that ultimately led to criminal charges against the former Prime Minister.In a decision handed down on Monday, Magistrate Franco Agius ruled there were no grounds to order Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà to press charges against Milenovic as reported by Times of Malta.Muscat had argued that Milenovic falsely described herself as a “forensic accountant” despite not holding a Maltese warrant to practise as an accountant.He initially alleged she committed fraud, made false declarations and breached Malta’s Accountancy Profession Act, though some of those claims were later withdrawn.The challenge centred on Milenovic’s involvement in the long-running Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Health Care hospitals inquiry led by Magistrate Gabriella Vella.That inquiry concluded that dozens of individuals should face criminal charges, including Muscat, who was arraigned in 2024 and is currently pleading not guilty to charges including money laundering, bribery and trading in influence.Police had already dismissed Muscat’s complaint against Milenovic in March 2026 after determining there was no basis for criminal proceedings.During court proceedings, members of Malta’s Accountancy Board confirmed that Milenovic never held a Maltese warrant. However, police testified that consultations with the board indicated the use of the term “forensic accountant” fell into a legal grey area.Investigators also established that Milenovic had been certified as an accountant in Serbia since 2000, most recently renewing her licence in 2017, and held credentials from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in the United States.The court noted that documents referring to Milenovic as a forensic accountant, including the decree appointing her as an expert, were not written by her.Magistrate Agius also found that parts of Muscat’s challenge were premature because they relied on evidence and testimony that may still form part of the ongoing criminal proceedings linked to the hospitals deal.As a result, the court dismissed the request in its entirety.Muscat is expected to appeal the ruling.Magistrate Agius also found that parts of Muscat’s challenge were premature because they relied on evidence and testimony that may still form part of the ongoing criminal proceedings linked to the hospitals deal.As a result, the court dismissed the request in its entirety.Muscat is expected to appeal the ruling.The decision marks another chapter in the continuing fallout from the hospitals concession scandal, one of Malta’s most significant corruption investigations in recent years.•