Steward Health Care has chosen to halt current proceedings in Malta against a former VGH investor for now given the particular circumstances of this case, a spokesperson for the company told The Malta Independent.

Steward Malta had unexpectedly ceded a case it had filed against one of the investors in the Vitals hospitals deal - Ambrish Gupta - earlier this week. It was previously reported, incorrectly, that former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was expected to testify in that sitting. He was not summoned by any party.

Steward had filed a case against investors Medical Associates of North Virginia Inc, a case that started in a London court and during which the healthcare company alleged that MANV investor Ambrish Gupta was involved in irregular and collusive practices with the government of Malta. When the case was called on Tuesday, the judge observed that a note had been filed by the plaintiffs, ceding the case. It is understood that no reason was specified in the note, which was filed by lawyers Joseph Camilleri and Nicole Fenech. Steward was challenging Gupta's expectations of a €6 million payout, claiming the original Vitals concession was obtained fraudulently.

The Malta Independent contacted Steward Health Care Malta, asking for a reason as to why it ceded the case.

"Steward Health Care Malta is focused on delivering world-class patient-centred health care for the communities we serve. Given the particular circumstances of this case, we have chosen to halt current proceedings in Malta for now. This claim is a legacy contractual issue originating with the previous owners of this concession, VGH, and the concession's original structure, which has been deemed by the National Audit Office, the European Commission and other independent bodies as not fit for purpose," a Steward Health Care Malta spokesperson responded.

No further explanation as to the 'particular circumstances' was given in the response.