80% of complaints filed with the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority over the alleged car mileage tampering case have been resolved, Minister for Inclusion, Social Wellbeing and Voluntary Organisations Julia Farrugia Portelli said.

 Early in June, Maltatoday reported how two car dealers sold imported cars from Japan after allegedly tampering with their mileage gauges. 

The minister had appealed for suspected victims to contact the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority and file a complaint. 

Last reported in mid-July, the number of complaints has not changed and stands at 83. 

Commenting on the situation, Farrugia Portelli said that as an authority, the MCCAA had intervened immediately after the news report emerged. 

“We helped more than 80% of all cases that have come forward to receive adequate compensation. I am also aware that there is a last attempt ongoing for the remaining percentage to be resolved,” she said. 

Many times, the form of compensation is either cash or else a car equivalent in value to the car consumers should have been given to start with, she said. 

Additionally, she said that up until now none of these filed complaints have been taken to tribunal for resolution.

“Up until now, I am informed that there were no cases that have been taken to tribunal, and that is why we need to ensure that this process is respected. I also understand that the competent authorities, such as the police, are conducting the necessary investigations, as such a case also merits to be investigated from that aspect,” she said. 

The minister could not comment on the stage of the police investigation.

Asked about the car dealers involved, she said that “as a minister I need to ensure that the concerned authorities, thus the police; do their job, investigate the persons mentioned in this case.”