Former San Lawrenz mayor not guilty of fraud

The former mayor of San Lawrenz and five other former council officials were today acquitted of having been accomplices to a fraudulent scheme concerning grants offered by the Malta Resources Authority to residents investing in the installation of photovoltaic panels. Noel Formosa, Anthony Formosa, Giovanni Mercieca, Joseph Sultana, Luigia Grima u Lucia Anna Haber, as former representatives of the San Lawrenz council were accused of having been accomplices to fraud with Godfrey Formosa, director of Di Natura, a company selling clean energy systems. The whole case, which had caused a stir back in 2010, revolved around a scheme set up by the Malta Resources Authority whereby a 50 per cent price refund was offered to individuals who opted to invest in photovoltaic panels. Di Natura offered residents of San Lawrenz a photovoltaic package for €6,000. The purchaser paid €1,000, the supplier company forked out €2,000 and the remaining €3,000 were sponsored through EU funding. However, it was alleged that the price quoted to the MRA was purposely inflated and that the refund was ultimately pocketed by supplier Godfrey Formosa. The court, presided by magistrate Neville Camilleri observed...