PETALING JAYA: While bitcoin miners are raking in the big bucks, it is unfortunate that others have had to bear the cost for their illegal activities.

       Such is the fate of businessman Datuk Sheah Kok Fah, who was fined almost RM1mil for allegedly stealing electricity from a four-storey building that he sold 12 years ago.

       Sheah said the new owners promised him that they would arrange for the name to be changed when he submitted his request to change the signboard at the premises.

       “I remember that we submitted a request to change the name, but we didn’t follow up until recently when we received fines from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB),” he said.

       He said he was compelled to share his agony after reading The Star’s recent report on electricity theft by bitcoin miners.

       The Star had frontpaged a report last month that bitcoin mining operators were running their operations on stolen electricity and bribing meter readers to help them hide their actions.

       At least 18 people were arrested in a joint sting operation last week involving TNB and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

       According to Sheah, he sold the building in 2010. However, in 2019, he received a letter from TNB that fined him about RM8,000 for allegedly using stolen electricity on the first floor.

       The matter, however, was purportedly resolved by the new owner and Sheah then proceeded to submit a request to discontinue electricity services at the premises located in Jalan Puchong.

       “When the first case happened, I informed the buyers through our lawyer and they were the ones who settled everything with TNB.

       “We proceeded to submit a request to terminate the electricity supply, and I am not too sure of what happened then, but last month, I received another letter.

       “This time around, I was fined over RM766,000 for allegedly tampering with the meter at the second floor of the building,” he said.

       Shocked and disappointed over the letter’s contents, Sheah said he then submitted another request to cut off electricity to the building.

       “I wrote a letter to give authorisation to one of my staff to go and close all four accounts, since each floor had one account.

       “I then received a call from TNB saying its staff could not enter the locked premises.

       “TNB said once I’ve arranged for the door and grill to be opened, only then can they come and cut the power,” he added.

       A letter was also submitted to the new owner, who then vacated the premises.

       Sheah said he was informed that the illegal activity had been going on since 2013.