Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras ruled that a case involving electricity theft from a meter which has been dragging out for 16 years case should not be thrown out on the basis of the statute of limitations having expired.

Joseph Debono, the accused, is being charged with stealing LM628.36c worth of electricity from Enemalta between 2 December 1989 and 1 February 1994.

The accused first appeared in front of the Courts on 17 February 1997, three years after the last alleged theft. 23 sittings were conducted subsequently, with the longest period without a sitting being between 16 January 2007 and 13 November 2012.

The Magistrate said that ten years had not passed between sittings, therefore the statute of limitations had not expired.