A 10th Enemalta employee has been suspended pending further police investigation into allegations of electricity theft and meter tampering, the corporation said yesterday.

Sources said this employee worked in the lighting section. In a statement, Enemalta thanked customers, individuals as well as its employees for collaborating in the investigations, saying their commitment was essential to curb this kind of abuse.

It warned that customers aware of similar irregularities had until April 7 to come forward to regularise their position and avoid further consequences.

This scandal came to light on February 11, when Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi announced that the police had been called in to investigate allegations that Enemalta employees had been bribed to tamper up to 1,000 smart meters.

The government estimates electricity theft costs Enemalta some €30 million in lost revenue every year.

Three days after this announcement, Paul Pantalleresco, a 55-year-old man from Mqabba, was jailed for two years after admitting receiving bribes and tampering with some 250 smart meters.

Two other Enemalta employees, Manuel Micallef, 35 from Mtarfa and Richard Gauci, 47, from Rabat, were also arraigned in connection with the scam and are in custody.

The police have yet to press charges against the other seven Enemalta employees who have been suspended so far.