A consumer who benefited from an amnesty after using a rigged electricity meter was warned of the consequences of perjury as he struggled to identify the man who offered to install the meter.

Emanuel Zammit, from St Paul’s Bay, described the man who had offered him an electricity meter as being blond, tall, well-built and having light blue eyes.

He was testifying in the case against technician Anthony Pace, 43, from Mosta, who is pleading not guilty to bribery, unlawful exaction of money as a public official and defrauding Enemalta, his employer.

Mr Pace is the seventh person to be arraigned so far over the tampering of electricity meters.

Technicians Paul Pantalleresco, 55, from Mqabba and Carmel Vella, 55, from Żejtun admitted to bribery and defrauding the corporation and were jailed for two years.

Mr Pace, who is fair but short and stocky, was asked by his lawyer, Arthur Azzopardi, to stand up so Magistrate Carol Peralta could notice his build.

When the witness said he could not remember the name of the man who had offered to install the meter, Police Inspector Daniel Zammit warned him of the consequences of lying under oath.

Mr Zammit said that the man in question had first met him on a quay in St Paul’s Bay where he used to moor his boat and they had struck up a conversation. Sometime later, during another chance meeting, the man offered to install a meter, which, he had said, would save him money on electricity bills.

When questioned by Enemalta staff in the presence of his lawyer, Robert Abela, he said he had been shown nine photos of suspects and took a long time to narrow the choice down to two people. He said he indicated pictures two and nine but felt that the person appearing on the second image better resembled the man he had dealt with. Picture nine actually featured Mr Pace but the witness said he was not the one he had met because his physical stature was completely different.

He said that when the meter was installed he was initially asked for €2,200 but he demanded a discount, they agreed on a new sum and he paid up, Mr Zammit said. The sum was not mentioned.

In separate proceedings, technician Richard Gauci, 47, from Rabat, admitted to bribery charges and an Enemalta representative, Joseph Mangion, said Mr Gauci owed the corporation €44,000 having charged 88 customers €500 each for installing meters. His case continues in September.