Malaysian man steals electricity for Bitcoin mining operation, gets $36,000 fine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Hii King Lee pleaded guilty to two separate charges on July 11.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Follow topic:
MIRI, Sarawak - A man has been fined RM120,000 (S$36,000) by a court in Sarawak for electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining.
On July 11, Hii King Lee, 49, 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 in the city of Miri in Sarawak in January 2024. The second offence took place at a residential property in Jalan Desa Seri Utama in the city 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, 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 consent of Hii’s landlords, a raid was carried out at the accused’s residential premises by Sesco officers, who were accompanied by the police.
Investigations revealed 90 Bitcoin mining machines connected directly via the cables, thereby avoiding legitimate electricity charges.
Hii 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 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. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
