Updated | ‘Overlooking corruption makes government equally as guilty’ – Busuttil

Adds PL's reaction

In a scathing attack on the government's proposed "amnesty" to Enemalta customers, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused the government's of being equally liable to corruption.

In the wake of the government and the police uncovering the electricity-meter tampering ring, parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici and subsequently Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the government would not be launching criminal procedures against ENemalta customers who bribed employees to have their smart meters tampered with.

Instead, the government insisted, the leniency to Enemalta customers would lead to the "capture of the masterminds behind the criminal web," much to the disdain of the Nationalist Party who lambasted the government of tolerating corruption.

"Instead of delivering on its promise to kick out corruption, the government is instead showing 100% tolerance to corruption," Busuttil argued.

"Whoever does not fight corruption is guilty of corruption. The government had a chance to bring to justice those who are guilty of corrupting Enemalta officials and of stealing electricity, but instead it intends on handing out amnesties," Busuttil said while addressing the Marsaxlokk PN Club.

Following the discovery of an electricity-meter tampering ring valued at approximately €30 million, Enemalta decided to waive criminal proceedings against the consumers as long as they come forward, pay their dues and penalties and provide information that helps "capture the masterminds" behind the criminal web.

However, the government's decision to "go after the big fish" was lambasted by the Nationalist Party and its PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami who claimed that no person, not even the prime minister, could decide to waive criminal proceedings against anyone.

"This is not only an act of fraud and theft, but more seriously, this is an act of bribery and corruption. The consumers who are guilty of tampering with the smart meters committed an act of corruption are guilty as much as the Enemalta officials," Simon Busuttil argued.

According to Article 88 of the Electricity Supply Regulations, consumers found to have tampered with the meters, theft of electricity and unregistered consumption have to pay for the unbilled supply, plus interest and a penalty equivalent to 10% of the supply obtained illegally allowing perpetrators avoid criminal proceedings. However, the procedure introduced in 2006, makes no reference to other illegalities such as bribing Enemalta employees.

Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Owen Bonnici defended the government's decision to waive criminal action against consumer who admits to the energy theft, saying the government is simply putting into action a legal provision enacted under the previous government.

"The government had a chance to deliver on its pledge to fight corruption. Instead, when faced with clear cases of corruption, the government is give an amnesty to the perpetrators," Busuttil said while slamming the government's "failed" pledge to eradicate corruption.

"The difference between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party is as clearer as ever. While the PN fought to eradicate corruption and brought to justice those guilty of corrupting VAT officials and also those involved in the marine licenses bribery scam, Joseph Muscat and his government is pardoning these acts of corruption and bribery," Simon Busuttil argued.

Meanwhile, echoing Beppe Fenech Adami's call, the PN leader appealed to the Police Commissioner to investigate the matter.

"The Commissioner should not be a puppet who allows the prime minister to interfere in his duties. Peter Paul Zammit is duty bound to arraign those guilty of corruption and those guilty of tampering with the smart meters," he insisted.

Turning his attention on the government's plan to anchor a gas terminal to a jetty in the Marsaxlokk harbour, Simon Busuttil reiterated his call to the government not to "steamroll" over Marsaxlokk residents and health experts.

Labour's original energy plan of storing has in gigantic tanks located on land.The original plan was however derided by the residents in seaside Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia. On its part, the Nationalist Party had claimed that the land-based tanks would pose a "potential safety hazard for residents." In response of the criticism levelled against its plan, the government had discraded it, citing "health and safety" issues.

The floating LNG terminal will see a 215MW gas plant and liquefied natural gas storage terminal built by the Electrogas consortium at Delimara. National energy corporation Enemalta has discarded the option to locate the gas terminal away from the Delimara site, and instead use an LNG vessel anchored to a jetty. The floating terminal will be anchored permanently to the jetty, as proposed by Electrogas consortium.

However, the PN Leader insisted that the majority of the residents are against it and accused the government of "steamrolling" over the people's concerns and health.

"It is true that the government has electoral mandate to build the power station but it does not have electoral mandate to anchor this gas terminal. It is a risk and a gamble on people's health. The government should not do it," he said.

In addition, Busuttil called on the government to anchor the gas terminal outside Maltese shores.

"Upon proposing this idea, the government instantly refused it because it would take more money and more time. This sends a clear message that the government is prioritising money and political points over the residents' health," Busuttil continued.

'Simon Busuttil condemning his own party'

In a reaction, the Labour Party has lambasted the PN leader, claiming Busuttil's criticism on the government's plan to waive criminal proceedings was condemning his own party.

"When Simon Busuttil said that those who do not fight corruption are also guilty of corruption, the PN leader forgot that the Auditor General had repeatedly flagged the possibilities of energy theft at Enemalta," the Labour Party said.

"When the PN leader said that those who do not fight corruption are also guilty of corruption, he is also condemning the previous PN government and its ministers," it continued.

Moreover, in light of Busuttil's criticism at Labour's proposed gas storage terminal, the Labour Party has accused him of "scaremongering" the Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents.