Sesco inspection team members dismantling an illegal connection at the premises.
KUCHING: A routine inspection by Syarikat Sesco Bhd last week uncovered a case of power theft at a massage parlour at Stutong Commercial Centre, Jalan Setia Raja here.
The exercise was targeted at ‘high risk customers’, which included massage parlours, pubs or suspected online gambling dens.
A Sesco spokesperson said the massage parlour had several branches here including at Jalan Lapangan Terbang Baru, Jalan Tun Jugah and Jalan Kuching-Serian, adding that all premises had history in meter-tampering.
The Stutong Commercial Centre branch is occupying the whole four-storey shoplot, with the top floor used as workers quarters.
The entire massage parlour is fully air-conditioned and connected via four Sesco meters.
The Sesco inspection team discovered that one meter had been tampered with, while the other three had illegal connections that would result in very low monthly bills.
It is also found that the massage parlour was used to run online gambling activities.
“The loss of revenue incurred by Sesco due to (meter) tampering shall be recovered from the customer via arrears bill. Police report has also been lodged for further investigation and consequent legal action against the business operator,” the spokesperson said, adding that Sesco would continue to go all-out against power theft.
“Sesco is specifically focusing on high-risk customers, such as those that have been repeatedly found to be involved in meter-tampering.”
Offenders can be charged under Section 33 (5) of Electricity Ordinance, which carries a penalty of RM100,000 and or a five-year imprisonment upon conviction.
Those who suspect or know of possible power theft can report by calling 082-443535, or email the information to [email protected]. “Sesco assures the informants that their identities would be kept strictly confidential,” the spokesperson said.