KUCHING: Ministry of Utilities Sarawak wishes to remind the public that the Ministry is committed to tackling the issues of rampant power theft in Sarawak.
At the recent incident, a Kuching-based company had pleaded guilty in the Kuching Sessions Court for the power theft offence committed in April 2013 and was fined RM50,000, said a press statement yesterday.
It was detected through a joint effort by the special team compromising the Electrical Inspectorate Officers from the Ministry and Meter Section Officers from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).
The rampant power theft had caused losses of about RM400 million in the past six (6) years. Besides affecting the supply performances to nearby consumers, it could also result in overloading of installation that could damage electrical equipment, causing fire, serious injury or even death.
Power theft is a crime under Section 33 (5) of the Electricity Ordinance, which carries a penalty of RM100,00.00 and/or five (5) years’ imprisonment.
