MIRI: In collaboration with the police, Sarawak Energy’s operations and retail arm, the Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO), recently unravelled another electricity theft case here related to cryptocurrency mining operations.
According to a press statement issued by Sarawak Energy, a tenant in a rented single-storey property in Vistana Perdana was found operating cryptocurrency mining servers using an illegal electricity connection.
In the operation, direct tapping of cables was done to bypass the electricity meter, resulting in an estimated monthly loss of RM4,500.
SESCO’s team dismantled the illegal setup, while authorities seized six cryptocurrency servers as evidence.
A police report has been filed, and the landlord and the tenant are under investigation.
In 2024, Miri recorded 48 cases of electricity theft related to cryptocurrency mining, bringing the total to 56 cases in Sarawak. The illegal activities have caused financial losses of over RM20 million.
Those convicted under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance can be punished with a fine not exceeding RM200,000 and/or jailed for up to five years.
Sarawak Energy will not hesitate to continue assisting the authorities in their efforts to bring offenders to justice.
Illegal electricity connections expose consumers to great risk, including fires and electrocution due to unregulated and faulty wiring and unregulated connections could cause power outages that might present further dangers and inconveniences to communities around them.
The public can anonymously report electricity theft by contacting Sarawak Energy’s Customer Care Centre at 1300-88-3111 or emailing customercare@sarawakenergy.com, with all information kept strictly confidential.
