KUCHING: A 20-year-old electrician has been caught red-handed assisting a massage parlour business operator in stealing electricity at Tabuan Tranquility.
The operator was alleged to have been connecting power supply illegally to the three-storey parlour since early this year.
The illegal connection was done by repetitively tampering with the electricity incoming main-wirings, assisted by the electrician.
“The electrician was in the process of connecting wires when the arrest was made by the anti-power theft team consisting of personnel from Sarawak Energy’s utility arm, Syarikat Sesco Berhad (Sesco), Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) of the Ministry of Utilities and the police recently,” said Sarawak Energy in a statement issued yesterday.
According to the statement, the operation followed a public tip-off and surveillance of the premises over the past few months.
The electrician was remanded by the police at the Tabuan Jaya police station while his supervisor was also called in by the police to assist in the investigation, under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance for stealing electricity.
Sarawak Energy said there was no proper electricity supply connection being made to the premises and the safety of the wiring was questionable as no proper testing in accordance with the standards and safety requirements were done.
The illegal connection could cause fire to the building and put others in danger of electrocution, the statement added.
Sarawak Energy said the operator is a repeat offender of power theft.
“Despite having the illegal supply disconnected six times previously, the operator continued to steal electricity.”
In the recent operation, it was discovered that the supply was reconnected through the same method by incoming main-wirings to all three floors of the premises. All illegal wirings were immediately disconnected and dismantled by Sarawak Energy’s technical team.
“During the operation, the electrical load for the premises was measured and estimated to cost around RM4,000 to RM5,000 per month. The actual amount could have been higher considering that the measurement was taken in the morning, which is business off-peak hour.”
Sarawak Energy through EIU and the state Attorney General Chambers is taking legal action and will charge the operator for the cost of electricity stolen.
This is the second power theft case at Tabuan Tranquility this year. The first case happened early this year in a housing estate in which the owner of said premises was also caught red-handed. Prosecution preparation for the first case is underway.
Sarawak Energy said it would continue to work closely with EIU and the police and reminded its customers that this activity is a crime under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance, which carries a penalty of RM100,000 and/or five years’ imprisonment if found guilty.
Stealing electricity also endangers lives and causes damage to customers’ properties including electrical appliances which may lead to fire.
Members of the public can report on any power theft information via the Sarawak Energy hotline at 082-443535. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
