Latest news with #RonaldFelixHardin
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Borneo Post
Man who stole electricity for crypto mining operation in Samarahan fined RM15,000
The 45-year-old accused from Sri Aman pleaded guilty before Judge Shafiza Abdul Razak Tready after the charge under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance (Chapter 50) was read to him. KUCHING (Aug 6): A man was fined RM15,000 in default six months' jail by the Samarahan Sessions Court today for stealing electricity to power cryptocurrency mining machines. The 45-year-old accused from Sri Aman pleaded guilty before Judge Shafiza Abdul Razak Tready after the charge under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance (Chapter 50) was read to him. The Section provides for a fine not exceeding RM200,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction. He committed the offence at a commercial premises in Central City Commercial Centre along Jalan Uni Central 2 at around 1.30pm on July 28, 2020. In mitigation, the accused expressed remorse and appealed to the court to show leniency by imposing a minimal fine. He also pleaded not to be sentenced to prison as he had been remanded in Puncak Borneo Prison since July 2 this year. Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin urged the court to take into account the gravity of the offence, namely electricity theft used to power a bitcoin mining operation during the Movement Control Order. 'Furthermore, the next-of-kin of the landlord, who recently passed away, has suffered from the tenant's crypto mining nightmare, which led to arrears issued under Section 33A of the Electricity Ordinance. 'The direct tapping cables shown to have recorded active electricity current at about 129.2A whilst the measurement captured by the electricity meter installed were at 0.1A,' said the DPP during tendering of exhibits. crypto mining electricity theft fine Samarahan
The Star
24-07-2025
- The Star
Miri man gets six months in jail for stealing power to mine crypto
KUCHING: A 49-year-old unemployed man from Miri has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty to stealing electricity to power a cryptocurrency mining operation. The accused Hii King Lee was charged under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance for dishonestly abstracting electricity at commercial shoplots at the 17th Mile, Jalan Kuching-Serian, on June 21, 2024. Inspectors from Syarikat SESCO Bhd found 60 Bitcoin mining machines connected through illegal direct-tapping cables that bypassed the electricity meter. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin said on Thursday (July 24) such illegal mining activities pose serious fire risks and result in monthly losses of nearly RM4mil for SESCO. He urged landlords to ensure electricity accounts are registered under tenants' names to avoid liability. Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi ordered Hii's sentence to run after completing a separate six-month term imposed by the Miri Sessions Court on July 11 for a similar offence. He also faces multiple drug and corruption charges in Miri. In a related case, shoplot landlord Chang Foh Foong was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal but remains liable for outstanding electricity charges. He was represented by Michael Kong. Several officers from the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak and SESCO were present during the proceedings.
Borneo Post
20-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Court approves disposal of seized animal parts in Sibu
Some of the wildlife meat seized by SFC. – Photo courtesy of SFC SIBU (May 20): The Magistrates' Court here today allowed applications by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) for the disposal of about half a tonne of wild animals' parts, including freezers used to store them, which were seized from residential units, shophouses and pasar tamu. Senior assistant registrar Jessica Lee, sitting as magistrate, allowed the applications filed by the wildlife officer pursuant to Section 48 of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 (Chapter 26) and Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). According to the applications submitted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin of the State Attorney-General's Chambers appearing on behalf of SFC, all the seized exhibits were of perishable nature, and the freezers were equipment provided under Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). Furthermore, there were constraints in proper storage space at the Sibu Regional Office. 'One of the suspects has since absconded despite Warrant of Arrest being issued by the trial judge at the Sessions Court in Sibu in the midst of trial proceedings,' he added. Among the seized wild animal meat were cuts from wild boar (Sus barbatus Suidae species), deer (Cervus Unicolor species), reptile belonging to Python species, and one lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil species). The suspects were being investigated under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 (Chapter 26). Several wildlife officers attended the court proceedings. animal parts Court disposal lead Sarawak Forestry Corporation
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Court approves S'wak Forestry Corp application to dispose of seized animal parts
SIBU: The Magistrates' Court here has approved the Sarawak Forestry Corporation's (SFC) application to dispose of half a tonne of wild animal parts and freezers. These items were confiscated from homes, shoplots, and a pasar tamu in Sibu. Senior Assistant Registrar Jessica Lee Suk Kiun, acting as Magistrate on Tuesday (May 20), approved the application by a wildlife officer under Section 48 of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 and Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code. According to SFC counsel DPP Ronald Felix Hardin, the seized items are perishable. The freezers are considered equipment under Section 407A of the Criminal Procedure Code. He cited limited storage capacity at SFC's regional office in Sibu as another reason for disposal. He added that one suspect has absconded despite an arrest warrant issued by a Sessions Court judge. The confiscated animal meat includes wild boar, deer, python species, and a lesser mousedeer. The suspects are being investigated under Section 37(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998. Several wildlife officers attended the court proceedings.
