Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was “very angry” about the €60,000 consultancy contract given by Enemalta to former police inspector Daniel Zammit after he was boarded out of the force on medical grounds, but he avoided questions on accountability.
His anger was the reason he gave for deciding to instruct the Enemalta chairman to immediately terminate the contract, saying it was “unacceptable”. Yet he did not reply to Times of Malta questions asking whether further steps would be taken to ensure accountability for the decision.
The order came after it emerged in Parliament on Monday that the former police inspector had been speedily boarded out on medical grounds only to land a job with a pay of close to €60,000 at Enemalta.
Mr Zammit is the son of Deputy Commissioner Ray Zammit, who held the post of Acting Police Commissioner until the notorious shooting by Paul Sheehan that led to the dismissal of former Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia.
The former police inspector formed part of the force’s Economic Crimes Unit and was the prosecutor in the court cases against Enemalta employees who had tampered with smart meters.
Investigations leading up to the case would have been coordinated with Enemalta’s internal audit department – the same department in which Mr Zammit landed a job.
He caused a storm in February last year during court hearings when he said the police had not yet spoken to consumers who stole electricity or pressed charges against them pending “a political decision” over whether they would get an amnesty.
As soon as the information came to our attention, Enemalta was directed to rectify
This led to the Nationalist Party stating there had been “political interference” in the police force. The government then gave consumers with rigged meters – claimed by the government to number more than 1,000 – the opportunity to avoid prosecution by repaying what they owed with interest, paying a penalty and providing information on how they stole electricity. The PN insisted that the consumers should have also been brought to book.
Over 500 cases of consumers who tampered with smart meters remain pending since Mr Zammit’s departure from the force. Only 25 people have been arraigned in court, according to information given in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela last May in reply to questions posed by shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi. Just over 400 consumers had applied for the amnesty.
When Times of Malta contacted Mr Zammit yesterday, he said he did not wish to comment “at this point”.
Those who are boarded out of public service employment on medical grounds receive a pension since they are unable to continue working. To do so, they cannot be gainfully employed elsewhere. Mr Zammit could have left the force and joined Enemalta but he went through the channels that provide a pension before being employed by the State company.
“As soon as this information came to our attention, Enemalta was directed to rectify,” the Energy Minister said.
Questions remain on accountability and whether the minister’s order to the chairman of the company – now part-owned by Chinese interests – is in line with correct procedures.