Police to file charges on solar panel fund scam

The police will be issuing fraud charges against the directors of a solar panels supplier following an investigation into an EU fund scheme. Police sources confirmed that the economic crimes unit had unravelled a scam through which the suspected supplier could acquire EU funds through a scheme being administered by Malta Enterprise. It was Malta Enterprise itself that reported the matter to the police after preliminary analyses of funding applications made by the company in question raised suspicions of irregularities. The ERDF energy grant scheme provides EU financing to commercial enterprises to invest in power-saving measures and alternative energy sources. Companies could apply to receive half of their investment on alternative energy sources through the scheme. In some cases, the EU grant amounted to almost €100,000 per firm. According to the scheme's rules, applicants had to supply three different quotes from three different suppliers with their project plans. The police found that one particular PV supplier was providing applicants with three quotations, under different names, in such a way that the company would be assured of supplying the equipment itself at...