KOTA KINABALU, 4 December – The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) prosecuted a resident of a squatter settlement in Sepanggar.
The accused was charged with several offences under the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024 (EBE 2024).
The first charge involves an offence under Section 8(1)(b) for supplying electricity to several premises within the squatter settlement without a valid licence. Upon conviction, the accused may face a fine not exceeding RM1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
The second charge concerns an offence under Section 61(3)(a) for dishonestly tapping electricity. Upon conviction, the accused may be liable to a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM100,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.
The third charge is under Section 61(8) for installing electrical wiring without the permission of the licensed holder, Sabah Electricity (SE). If convicted, this offence carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.
The accused pleaded not guilty, and the court granted bail of RM15,000 with two (2) local sureties. However, the accused was remanded for failing to post bail, and the next case mention date has been set for 22 January 2026.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of ECoS, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, “This is the first case involving electricity theft in a squatter settlement that has been brought to Court. ECoS, together with SE, will intensify efforts to curb electricity theft activities.”
He added, “Electricity theft in squatter areas not only results in significant losses to SE, but also poses severe safety risks due to non-standard installations and frequently results in disruptions to the electricity supply for registered consumers in surrounding areas caused by excessive load.”