Malaysian man steals electricity for bitcoin mining operation, gets $36,000 fine
Hii King Lee pleaded guilty to two separate charges on July 11.
MIRI, Sarawak - A 49-year-old man has been fined RM120,000 (S$36,000) by a court in Sarawak for electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining.
The accused, Hii King Lee, on July 11 pleaded guilty to two separate charges.
The first offence involved the dishonest extraction of electricity at a row of commercial shops along Jalan Bulatan Parkin, Sarawak, in January 2024.
The second offence took place at a residential property in Jalan Desa Seri Utama, Sarawak, on April 23, 2025.
According to the facts of the case, officers from energy development company Sesco's revenue management division, licensed under Sarawak Energy Berhad, had conducted routine inspections of electricity meters at both locations.
They discovered illegal direct tapping cables that bypassed the meters, unlawfully diverting electricity.
With a court-approved search warrant and the landlords' consent, forced entry was carried out.
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Investigations revealed 90 units of Bitcoin mining machines connected directly via these cables, thereby avoiding legitimate electricity charges.
At the residential premises, the police accompanied Sesco officers during the raid.
Hii, the occupant, was also allegedly found in possession of illegal substances. He is currently facing several other charges in Miri relating to drugs and corruption.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin underscored the seriousness of electricity theft, particularly in cryptocurrency operations, which require a continuous power supply and cooling.
He warned that such installations pose fire hazards and broader safety concerns. He further advised landlords to ensure that electricity accounts are transferred to their tenants to avoid being implicated in potential future misuse.
Judge Afidah Binti Abdul Rahman imposed the RM120,000 fine. The court also noted that Hii is facing an additional electricity theft charge under the same ordinance, which is currently pending before the Sessions Court in Kuching.
That case is scheduled for further mention on July 24, 2025.
Hii's wife, 38-year-old Hii Lay Ching, failed to appear for her court hearing on the same day.
She is facing two counts of electricity theft, allegedly committed on Nov 23, 2024, at shophouses in Jalan Pujut, Sarawak .
She had previously claimed trial in relation to a similar offence at a shophouse in Eastwood Valley Industrial Park on Dec 16, 2024, and was released on bail on June 26, 2025. The court has issued a warrant for her arrest, with the next mention scheduled for Aug 4, 2025.
Several officers from the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Ministry and Sesco's Investigation Unit were present in court during the proceedings. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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