KUCHING: More than 30 cases of illegal electricity connections were discovered in four shophouses in Tabuan Jaya during the joint operation conducted by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, and the police recently.
According to SEB’s press release, the absence of electricity meters on-site indicated that the culprits had resorted to direct tapping cables to illicitly siphon power from the mains to the buildings. Furthermore, investigations have unveiled a history of fire incidents suspected to have been caused by unsafe wiring practices within these buildings.
“As evidence of electricity theft, all direct tapping cables found on the premises were dismantled and seized,” said the press release.
The estimated monthly losses incurred by SEB solely due to unrecorded electricity consumption in this area amount to approximately RM15,000.
In response to the discovery, a police report has been lodged, and all parties involved, including the electrical contractor, will be summoned to aid in the ongoing investigations. If found guilty, these individuals will face charges under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance, which carries a penalty of up to RM100,000 and/or five years of imprisonment, SEB warned.
SEB added that it will now closely scrutinize new applications for electricity supply and review existing accounts, particularly those with a history of electricity theft.
“To avoid any potential complications in the future, all applicants, including contractors, must adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) when applying for electricity supply,” SEB asserted.
SEB also encourages individuals with information related to power theft, including details about power theft service providers, to report such incidents to Sarawak Energy’s customer care centre at 1300-88-3111 or via email at customercare@sarawakenergy.com for further investigation.
