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YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT Newspaper post maltatoday SUNDAY • 23 FEBRUARY 2014 • ISSUE 746 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY €1.20 Download the MaltaToday App now GEORGE VELLA INTERVIEWED PGS 12-13 1,000 tampered meters? 'It's pure speculation' Anonymous letter was tip-off • Installer revealed how 'impregnable' smart meters were busted SAVIOUR BALZAN THE investigation by Enemalta's theft control unit that purported to have broken up a racket of tampered smart meters, was only made pos- sible through a string of anonymous letters that claimed that 'brokers' were advising people to get their single-phase, tamper-proof meters 'adjusted'. But in spite of the impression given by energy minister Konrad Mizzi that "over 1,000 smart meters" were found to have been tampered with, this declaration remains a matter of pure, internal speculation. MaltaToday has been told that the only con- crete statement made so far has been the aca- demic estimate of the annual €30 million losses from energy theft and unaccounted technical losses. On its part, Enemalta has been unable to quantify how many single-phase and three- phase meters had been physically found to be tampered. The corporation was unable to state the ex- act number of meters it has found hacked, and the amount of energy consumed illegally, when asked by this newspaper. It claimed that its theft control unit uncov- ered the energy theft by analysing consump- tion patterns, and that so far only "initial re- sults" have been passed on the police while the investigation continues. "Since both inquiries are still underway, Enemalta is not in a position to issue further information." MaltaToday was told that Enemalta was alerted to the scale of theft taking place after anonymous letters pointed out employees who had carried out the adjustment of the meters. It was only after police apprehended and in- terrogated meter installer Paul Pantaleresco, 55 of Mqabba, that they were given a ground- breaking insight into how Enemalta installers were hacking into the smart meters – Pan- taleresco pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for his part in the bribery network. POLICE investigators are probing an alleged bribery network over the validation of fish landings that has focused on top civil serv- ants in the fisheries department, MaltaTo- day has learnt. Three individuals were targeted in inves- tigations, although one suspect was said to have passed away. Police believe as much as €800,000 in il- licit earnings were paid over the years for the validation of catch certificates for fisher- men's landings. Investigators have questioned fisheries protection officer Frans Caruana, whose role includes that of validating catch certifi- cates, as head of the fishing and aquaculture regulation and control unit (FARCU). The investigation was kicked into action over a report that Caruana had passed on in- complete information to a newly appointed principal fisheries protection officer. Caru- ana was responsible for endorsing catch cer- tificates for release by customs' officials. MaltaToday is not suggesting that Caruana is implicated in the investigations, but police have questioned Caruana in the investiga- tion led by Superintendent Paul Vassallo and Inspector Jonathan Ferris from the Econom- ic Crimes Unit. Prominent fish importers were also inter- rogated by the police. Environment minister Leo Brincat was first alerted to the bribery allegations by a top civil servant who had already assessed the evidence, and then instructed the de- partment to refer the matter to the police. Police are working on an assumption that as much as €800,000 could have been paid in bribes in what was an instutionalised racket. "There may be more than one person involved in the scam. We are still in the pre- liminary stages of the investigation." Earlier in the week, Brincat – who is the minister responsible for fisheries – said that what perplexed him was "why and how such scandalous behaviour never surfaced be- fore". CONTINUES PAGE 4 INSIDE Your free copy of Mintoff for sale! Fish landings graft probe, police suspect €800,000 in bribes Pages 16-17 TODAY Konrad Mizzi PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD