Maltese central bank chief Edward Scicluna pushed back against growing calls to resign after a court ruled Wednesday that he will have to stand trial in connection with a 2015 deal that has implicated swathes of the island nation’s elite.

“I will abide by the EU treaty and [European Central Bank] regulations and stay the course,” Scicluna told POLITICO, referring to rules that ECB officials need only resign when found guilty or rendered unable to fulfil their duties.

“I personally believe this whole case is heavily politically motivated and shall be able to prove my innocence in due course,” he added.

The Court of Magistrates determined there was enough evidence to begin criminal proceedings against the governor and 14 others — including Malta's former European commissioner nominee Chris Fearne.

They face charges of fraud and misappropriation for their alleged involvement in a deal to hand over the management of three state-run hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare, a private firm.

Allegations of fraud surrounding the so-called Vitals deal have led to a sprawling case that has implicated much of Malta's political establishment, including former prime minister Joseph Muscat.

Scicluna has vehemently protested his innocence. Malta's auditor general also attested there were "no shortcomings" in relation to the deal by Fearne and Scicluna, in a testimony earlier this month.

In a decree circulated Wednesday and seen by POLITICO, the court alleged that neither man forcefully challenged the deal in various cabinet discussions, despite having been "informed of the alleged shortcomings" pertaining to Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Healthcare, which later took over from Vitals.

While Scicluna's defense maintained that the governor had wanted to stop a payment to Steward, the court alleged that he had "probably" done so only to sign a memorandum with the firm first.

Fearne's lawyers likewise argued that he had sought to terminate the deal in 2018 and block payments to the concessionaires in 2021. The court "took note" of this argument but alleged that he had nevertheless failed to object to requests around the deal made to the cabinet.

Of the 15 defendants facing lesser charges, Scicluna, who was finance minister at the time of the deal, is the only one still holding public office: Fearne, the former health minister, stepped down from his role as deputy prime minister and handed back his EU commissioner nomination, in May.

It's unclear how long Scicluna, 77, will be able to stay in his post. Prime Minister Robert Abela, who had supported the governor throughout the first stage of the case and who shares his affiliation with the Labour Party, called on him on Wednesday to follow Fearne’s example.

“The role of central bank governor is a sensitive one,” he told the Times of Malta. “I know Prof. Edward Scicluna has a lot of integrity. I know how hard he worked for the country, and how he always put the national interest first...... I think he is able to arrive to the right decision,” he said.

“The correct decision for the central bank governor can be seen from the example set by [Fearne] and the example set by permanent secretary Ronald Mizzi," he added. "I believe good sense will prevail."

Scicluna wouldn't be the first eurozone central banker to stay in office while facing criminal proceedings. Slovakian central bank governor Peter Kažimír, who is currently fighting a corruption ruling, has also remained in his post.

The next court sitting will take place in August.