Seventh man arraigned over tampered meters scandal

Anthony Pace, 43, of Mosta, is the seventh man arraigned in connection with the Enemalta smart meters scandal.

Pace was charged with accepting bribes and defrauding Enemalta through the installation of smart meters that were tampered with in order to register less consumption.

Inspectors Roderick and Daniel Zammit told the court that Pace had already been spoken to by the police in the previous months but now investigators had enough evidence to prosecute him.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi requested bail, arguing that in proceedings related to the same case the accused were granted bail. “The prosecution was opposing bail because the scheme exempting witnesses from being prosecuted against was still running.

"The scheme is not available anymore, so the fear of approaching potential witnesses no longer exists. Furthermore, Pace has been on police bail for about two months and the police never received any complaints that he approached anyone in connection with the case”, the lawyer said.

The court also heard how the accused has never travelled and does not have a passport. “His wife and three children are in Malta; there is no fear that he could abscond”, the defence argued.

Prosecuting Inspector Daniel Zammit informed the court that, as happened in other related cases, the investigators were not opposing bail, now that the scheme was closed. “Witnesses have come forward and we have gathered enough evidence to prosecute Pace. We do not believe there is a risk that he will abscond, hence are not opposing bail”, the inspector said.

Magistrate Anthony Vella granted the accused bail against a deposit of €1,500 and a personal guarantee of €8,500 - the same bail conditions Magistrate Carol Peralta applied to another three accused earlier this week.

Inspectors Daniel and Roderick Zammit prosecuted. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Kathleen Grima appeared for the accused.

Since February, three men have pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the Enemalta tampered metre scandal. All three were jailed for two years and handed a general perpetual interdiction. Four others, including the accused, have been granted bail, while ten other employees are suspended from office as the investigations continue