5 days ago
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
