Three men were paid almost €19,000 between them by 10 Enemalta clients to rig their smart meters and register a lower consumption, a court heard yesterday.
The owner of a pastizzerija paid €5,200 for a tampered smart meter at the shop and another €1,600 for one at home.
The clients were testifying in the compilation of evidence against Martin Cilia La Corte, 49, of Marsascala, Anthony Mifsud, 50, of Rabat, and Emanuel Micallef, 35, of Mtarfa, who are being charged with defrauding Enemalta and bribing public officers.
At first he was scared, but then opted to go for it
The consumers identified the accused as middlemen and as the ones who had put them in contact with other people to install the rigged smart meters that recorded an electricity consumption that was about 80 per below what they had actually used.
Legal proceedings against them were waived by the Attorney General and Enemalta following an amnesty given by the government on condition they testified.
In the case against Mr Cilia La Corte, the court heard four consumers identifying him as the person they had approached to have a rigged meter installed.
Brian Cassar, from Marsascala, said the accused had gone to his home and told him he knew how to bypass the power meter system. They agreed to install the system and he returned to his house with another man, called Paul, and started work on the meter.
The job was done in an hour and he paid Mr Cilia La Corte €1,200.
Patrick Rizzo, from Msida, said he had asked Enemalta to send someone to see to a number of cables attached to his smart meter. Mr Cilia La Corte appeared and asked him for €1,000 to rig the meter. He found that too expensive, so they settled for €500. Mr Cilia La Corte took the meter and sometime later returned and re-installed it.
Brian Relton, a deliveryman from Marsascala, said he was told about meter tampering while having tea in a bar. He was given a phone number and the accused later turned up with another person. He paid him €2,000 for the altered meter.
Johann Tanti, from St Julian’s, said he had two meters, one of them in his pastizzerija. The accused had asked him if he was interested in rigging the meter. At first he was scared, he said, but then opted to go for it.
Mr Cilia La Corte asked for €5,200 to replace the meter at the pastizzerija and €1,600 to replace the one at home.
In the case against Mr Mifsud, the court heard John Mifsud, Charles Bellia and Christopher Zammit explain how the accused had offered to install rigged smart meters. Mr Mifsud said he paid €1,200, Mr Zammit €2,000 and Mr Bellia €1,500.
Giorgina Baldacchino, from Qormi, testified that Mr Micallef told her he could rig her meter and she would be charged less for electricity. She agreed and paid him €1,200 for this “special” meter.
Victor Schembri, from Birżebbuġa, said a person called Lawrence told him he knew someone who could rig the meters. Later, the accused turned up, took the smart meter and returned a few days later. He paid him €1,400.
Joseph Pace, from Qormi, said he had asked the accused, an Enemalta technician who was at his house replacing his meter, about the rigged smart meters as a lot was being said about them.
The man replied that he could do the job for €1,200, which he later reduced to €1,000. He paid and the job was done.
The case continues.
Police Inspector Roderick Zammit prosecuted. Lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for Mr Cilia La Corte. Lawyer Caroline Farrugia appeared for Mr Mifsud. Lawyer Joe Giglio was Mr Micallef’s defence counsel. Lawyers Franco Debono and Angie Muscat appeared parte civile for Enemalta.