Updated | Mizzi replies to accusations of pardoning energy thieves

The Nationalist Party has lambasted the Labour government for pardoning consumers embroiled in rampant energy theft from Enemalta, insisting that pardoning acts of corruption was "shameful".

In a statement, Enemalta said individuals who come forward with any irregularities in their or in their electricity consumption readings will avoid criminal proceedings.

"Enemalta confirmed what the Prime Minister said yesterday: amnesty will be given to those who bribed public officers," the PN said.

It added that the energy theft scandal was not only about the "€30 million stolen from Enemalta" but it was also about "bribing public officers to acquire tampered electricity meters".

The PN acknowledged that Enemalta regulations stipulate that the corporation could choose not to take criminal steps against those who tamper with meters.

"However, acts of corruption and bribing public officials are different acts, separate from theft of electricity. Government cannot pardon this criminal act as if nothing ever happened," it said.

The PN added that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was going to "pardon 1,000 people who committed corruption and bribed Enemalta officials", accusing him of "interfering with the course of justice".

"Police still have to proceed criminally against the 1,000 individuals who bribed the officials," it said.

The PN added it was "shameful" that Muscat was pardoning corruption while "bragging about his fight against corruption".

"We expect all acts of corruption to be investigated by the police and the police should not allow its work to face political interference," the PN said.

In reaction, energy minister Konrad Mizzi accused the opposition of holding double standards, adding that the PN was opposing its efforts to have the stolen energy paid by the perpetrators.

Stressing that former finance minister Tonio Fenech was aware of the theft, which in 2011 and 2012 "exploded to €30 million" a year, especially since this was flagged by the Auditor General, Mizzi said that the previous administration had introduced a law allowing Enemalta to enter a administrative agreement with the perpetrators.

Pointing out that the current administration was only following the law, Mizzi said that consumers who were involved in the theft would be asked to pay for the energy stole, including interests and a 10% penalty.

The statement however said that unlike previous PN administrations, the Labour government was doing its utmost to uncover the scam and was "tough" on the masterminds of this racket.

REACTION

Energy minister Konrad Mizzi has reiterated accusations against former finance minister Tonio Fenech, that under his stewardship over €30 million in electricity generated was consumed without being paid for.

Both Mizzi and Fenech have sued each other for defamation over accusations they have been trading with each other, since the findings of Enemalta's 'theft control unit' which found over 1,000 smart meters had been tampered with. Three Enemalta employees were charged with organizing the racket.

"Fenech is saying he knew nothing of this phenomenon despite a report from the Auditor General identifying this clear problem. The former government introduced a law allowing Enemalta to reach administrative agreements with whoever steals electricity," Mizzi said.

The Theft Control Unit was launched in May 2013 to understand why electricity being consumed was not being paid for by both residential and commercial users.

Enemalta is calling on consumers to come forward to regularise their position and pay what they owe, with interest and penalties.

The Opposition, on its part, says the waiving of criminal procedures against consumers who were party to an act of corruption, meant the government was pardoning guilty parties.

"The Opposition is not interested in catching whoever is behind this racket. Instead they want the government to embark on a witch hunt instead of collecting the money that Enemalta is owed.

"The government is acting according to the law, being strong with those who created this racket and the public officials involved in it. They will also be sued for damages. The Opposition should explain why it never took action in the years it was in government, when it was aware of this theft."