MILAN, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Italian prosecutors want the chairman of utility A2A, and eight other people who worked with him when he was head of utility AEM, to stand trial for defraud consumers judicial sources said on Saturday.
The call comes after a lengthy investigation after which prosecutors said Giuliano Zuccoli knew meters were charging customers for more gas than they used, and that he had tried to cover it up.
A judge will consider whether Zuccoli -- who took up his current position after AEM Milano merged with ASM Brescia to form A2A at the start of this year -- and the other individuals should stand trial.
An A2A spokesman could not be reached for comment.
In July, after prosecutors concluded their probe, the company said:
'The anomalies on which the accusations are based ... are traceable to a temporary slowdown of billing in December 2004, because of changes made to modernize internal information systems.'
It said this meant 'the billing amount in 2005 was higher than the amount of gas sold during the year.'
Judicial sources have told Reuters telephone intercepts show Alberto Solci, legal affairs manager for AEM and one of those who was investigated, explaining to colleagues how the meters malfunctioned.
Another conversation between Zuccoli and his secretary showed that he 'not only worked ... to give instructions on obstructing any possible legal processes but also took other measures to cover up the past,' the documents said.
(Editing by Matthew Jones) Keywords: ITALY A2A/ tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com ak COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
The call comes after a lengthy investigation after which prosecutors said Giuliano Zuccoli knew meters were charging customers for more gas than they used, and that he had tried to cover it up.
A judge will consider whether Zuccoli -- who took up his current position after AEM Milano merged with ASM Brescia to form A2A at the start of this year -- and the other individuals should stand trial.
An A2A spokesman could not be reached for comment.
In July, after prosecutors concluded their probe, the company said:
'The anomalies on which the accusations are based ... are traceable to a temporary slowdown of billing in December 2004, because of changes made to modernize internal information systems.'
It said this meant 'the billing amount in 2005 was higher than the amount of gas sold during the year.'
Judicial sources have told Reuters telephone intercepts show Alberto Solci, legal affairs manager for AEM and one of those who was investigated, explaining to colleagues how the meters malfunctioned.
Another conversation between Zuccoli and his secretary showed that he 'not only worked ... to give instructions on obstructing any possible legal processes but also took other measures to cover up the past,' the documents said.
(Editing by Matthew Jones) Keywords: ITALY A2A/ tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com ak COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.