Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted yesterday it was perfectly legal to give an amnesty to consumers who bribed Enemalta employees to rig their smart meters.

He stood by his decision, which, he said, conformed with present laws and was aimed at getting more information about the “racket” that seemed more widespread than the 1,000 consumers identified so far.

Fielding questions from journalists at the end of a visit to the Farsons brewery, Dr Muscat said there were indications that there were more people involved.

We are giving consumers the option to come forward, pay their dues and a fine and also supply information such as whom they called

“We are giving consumers the option to come forward, pay their dues and a fine and also supply information such as whom they called, who installed their meter and who organised the installation,” he said. “This is the way to get to the bottom of it.”

Dr Muscat said the government was applying the same law and system used when the Nationalist administration gave people a chance to regularise their position and pay a €233 penalty in 2006.

He was referring to a legal notice that gave Enemalta’s chairman the power to waive criminal liability on energy theft.

Dr Muscat refuted claims that law-abiding citizens were annoyed by the government’s leniency on those who bribed public officials to install a tampered meter and stole thousands of euros worth of power.

“What is surely unjust is leaving things as they are at Enemalta,” he said, adding that this was a way of getting enough information to put an end to the practice.

Dr Muscat said the government would not seek a presidential pardon for those who came forward and it was not in a position to stop the police investigating cases.

The Criminal Code lays down that it is the responsibility of the police to take legal action against those who bribe and those who are bribed.

Consumers have been given six weeks to regularise their position or face consequences.