TAWAU: The Tawau Sessions Court yesterday sentenced an undocumented individual to imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to stealing electricity through an illegal connection at a squatter settlement in Semporna.
The accused, Abdul Hamid bin Siddiq, was charged under Section 61(1) and Section 61(8) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024 (ESE 2024). The court imposed a prison sentence of 24 months for the first charge and six months for the second charge, with both sentences to run concurrently.
An offence under Section 61(1) carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Meanwhile, Section 61(8) provides for a penalty of a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
The prosecution was conducted by the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) Legal Officer, Nureen Natasha Mohd Raffie.
ECoS Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, said that the case was the third prosecution this year involving illegal electricity connections in squatter areas and the first to result in imprisonment.
“The sentence imposed demonstrates that the court views electricity theft and illegal connections as serious offences. Such activities not only cause financial losses to Sabah Electricity (SE), but can also affect the stability of electricity supply and create risks of electric shock and fire, posing a threat to life and property,” he said.
He added that ECoS will not compromise on any breaches of laws relating to electricity supply and will continue to intensify integrated enforcement operations with SE and other enforcement agencies to eradicate illegal electricity connections and take firm action against those involved.
