Power theft: Electrician caught red-handed
A 20-year-old electrician was caught red-handed helping a massage parlour operator at Tabuan Tranquility here steal electricity recently.
According to a statement issued by Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) yesterday, the operator has been connecting power supply illegally to the three-storey premises since early this year, in which the supply did not pass the power meter and this was made possible through illegal wiring connection.
The electrician was in the process of connecting the wires when the arrest was made by the anti-power theft team, consisting of personnel from SEB’s utility arm Syarikat Sesco Bhd, Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) of the Ministry of Utilities, and the police.
The operation was set up following public tip-off and also surveillance of the premises over the past few months.
The electrician is now at the Tabuan Jaya police lock-up, and his supervisor has been called in to assist in the investigation under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance, for power theft.
As the massage parlour operator had never applied for proper electricity supply connection, the safety of the wiring was questionable as no proper testing in accordance with the standards and safety requirements had eben done by Sesco.
This could cause fire to the building or put others in danger of electrocution.
Based on past records, the operator is a repeat offender of power theft. Despite having the illegal supply disconnected six times previously, the operator continued to steal electricity.
In the recent operation, it was discovered that the supply was reconnected through the same method by incoming main-wirings to all three floors of the premises. All illegal wirings were immediately disconnected and dismantled by Sarawak Energy’s technical team.
During the operation, the electrical load for the premises was measured and estimated to be RM4,000-RM5,000 per month. The actual amount could have been higher considering that the measurement was taken in the morning, which is business off peak hours.
Sarawak Energy, through EIU and the State Attorney General chambers, is taking legal action and will charge the operator for the amount of electricity stolen.
This is the second power theft case at Tabuan Tranquility area this year. The first one happened at a housing estate earlier in the year. The house owner was also caught red-handed. Prosecution’s preparation for the first case is under way.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Energy Auxiliary Police (AP) recently arrested two men for stealing cables at the Assar Senari 11kV substation during a routine patrol at Jalan Bako.
The two men, 33 and 37, were spotted at the substation around 3.30am on Sunday, which prompted the AP patrol team to immediately call for reinforcement to apprehend the suspects with assistance from the police.
The team found tools used to cut the cables and a motorcycle belonging to the suspects. Based on assessment at site, the suspects gained access to the substation by forcing open the shutter door. A sack with 30 metres of cut cables were found, believed to be cut from the circuit breaker, control panel and internal wiring. The damage is estimated to be worth around RM50,000.
Sarawak Energy has lodged a police report on the incident, and has handed over the suspects and the seized items to the police for further action.
Statistics show that since last year, 178 cases of vandalism and cable thefts were recorded, affecting electrical facilities, with damages amounting to RM2.2 million.
Sarawak Energy has taken various mitigation measures by reinforcing additional security measures at the substations and electrical facilities. They include security patrols, installation of closed-circuit television and alarm system.