IPOH: The police have raided three premises here for electricity theft to run cryptocurrency mining operations.

       Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the raid was conducted in Jelapang and Bercham near here on Thursday and Friday (Jan 25 and Jan 26).

       "The syndicate was modifying the electricity supply at the premises, and thus the raid was jointly carried out with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

       "It discovered that the syndicate had illegally connected electricity to the premises, which caused TNB to suffer losses of RM45,294," he said.

       He added in a statement on Saturday (Jan 27) that the police also confiscated 137 cryptocurrency-mining machines worth RM68,500.

       Comm Mohd Yusri said the investigation also discovered that the syndicate was able to rake in profits of about RM164,400 per month.

       He said that the case is being investigated under Section 37 (1) of the Electricity Act 1990 and Section 427 of the Penal Code.

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       Comm Mohd Yusri then urged the public to provide any information to the police if they come across individuals or premises involved in illegal activities.

       "Those renting out their premises are urged to keep a lookout on what their tenants are up to, so that they are not involved in any sort of illegal activities.

       The public can call the Ipoh District Control centre at 05-254 2222.