PUTRAJAYA: Electricity theft by a bitcoin mining syndicate from 2018 to 2021 have caused losses of over RM2.3 billion to the government, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said.
He said the huge losses were detected from 7,209 cases involving the syndicate throughout the country.
Selangor had the highest number of cases, with 2,311, followed Perak (1,349); Kuala Lumpur (732); Johor (723); Negeri Sembilan (599); Kedah (481); Pulau Pinang (344); Melaka (314); Pahang (288); Kelantan (37); Perlis (19); and Terengganu (12), he added.
According to him, the MACC detained 18 local men, including the syndicate's mastermind, aged between their 30s and 60s, in a nationwide operation yesterday.
"One of the suspects controlled 500 premises in Peninsular Malaysia. We also seized RM2.3 million in cash involving 998 premises," he said at a special media conference at the MACC headquarters here today.
Azam said MACC also seized RM281,180 in cash, froze 126 bank accounts holding a total of RM4.4 million belonging to 97 individuals and 29 companies and confiscaed 1,157 mining rigs, each worth an estimated RM2,000 totalling RM2.3 million, as well as RM82,000 in e-wallet credit.
Various cryptocurrencies worth RM108,545.38 (US$25,893.46), five cars - a BMW, a Honda Accord, a Toyota Vellfire, a Ford Ranger and an Audi as well as various jewellery were also seized.
"Intelligence gathered by the MACC confirmed these incidents occurred almost all over the country and we detected a total of 998 premises rented for such activities," he explained.
He said the syndicate operators would negotiate with TNB officers during enforcement operations while Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) confirmed there were bribes between RM3,000 and RM300,000 offered to ensure enforcement action would not be taken and to gain leaked information about operations.
Azam said bribes were paid on a monthly basis in two ways, cash and cryptocurrency.
These activities resulted in losses to the government, especially to TNB, and affected electricity supply to critical facilities such as clinics, hospitals, dialysis treatment centres, he said.
In addition, Azam said the activities would result in damaged electrical appliances and fires at the premises, and premise owners would end up being held accountable for the claims and actions imposed by TNB.
"The syndicate used the latest bitcoin mining rigs purchased from China, which were brought in through Port Klang and declared as information technology equipment," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Mar 01 2022
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (centre) looks at a bitcoin mining machine during a press conference on Ops Power at the MACC Putrajaya Headquarters today. - BERNAMA
Bank Indonesia naikkan kadar faedah kepada 6.25 peratus, dijangka terakhir bagi 2024
Kenaikan kadar faedah utama Bank Indonesia kepada 6.25 peratus pada Rabu, berkemungkinan besar menjadi yang pertama dan terakhir untuk bank itu bagi 2024.
Ketegasan Malaysia sekat kapal Israel berlabuh wajar dicontohi
Tindakan kerajaan Malaysia melarang syarikat perkapalan yang berpangkalan di Israel iaitu ZIM daripada berlabuh di mana-mana pelabuhan di negara itu, wajar dijadikan contoh.
Cucu Nelson Mandela antara peserta misi bantuan
Cucu kepada bekas Presiden Afrika Selatan, Nelson Mandela, menjadi antara peserta yang akan menyertai misi Break The Siege: Freedom Flotilla To Gaza yang dijadualkan memulakan pelayaran hari ini.
Bantah perang di Gaza meningkat di Universiti, Kolej A.S
Protes terhadap Israel memenuhi jalan-jalan di Brooklyn dan meningkat di universiti-universiti di seluruh Amerika Syarikat.
KMUM cela agenda dakyah zionis di Universiti Malaya
Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (KMUM) dalam pada itu mengambil pendirian dengan tegas mengecam terhadap kenyataan dikeluarkan oleh ilmuwan pro-zionis di Universiti Malaya.
Penceramah zionis: Netizen kecam pensyarah label Malaysia Islam-fasis
Rata-rata mereka berkata, Ahli akademik pro Zionis itu tidak dialu-alukan di Malaysia dan ideologi Zionis tidak diterima di negara ini.
Pesawat bawa mendiang Joanna tiba di Kuching
Pesawat C-130 Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) yang membawa jasad mendiang Laskar Kelas I JJM Joanna Felicia Rohna, 26.
EPL: Pertahan teman wanita, Rice buktikan masih wujud lelaki budiman
Pemain tengah Arsenal Declan Rice memuji teman wanita Lauren Fryer dan mempertahankannya selepas beberapa kumpulan pembenci memalukannya.
Reaksi penstrukturan semula akaun KWSP kepada tiga akaun
Bersama ditalian, Ketua Kluster Mikroekonomi, Pusat Kajian Pembangunan Inklusif dan Lestari (SID), Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pengurusan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Dr. Mustazar Mansur.
Aishah terkejut, tak sangka video nyanyian spontan tepi jalan jadi tular
Menurut Aishah, tindakan yang dilakukannya itu adalah secara kebetulan dan tidak dirancang sama sekali.
SPRM pastikan titah Agong dilaksanakan sepenuhnya, penuh integriti - Azam Baki
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) akan memastikan titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim dilaksanakan sepenuhnya, dan menjalankan tanggungjawab itu dengan penuh integriti.
'Bulan madu dah tamat, sekarang pergi tangkap lebah' - titah Agong kepada Azam Baki
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim pada Isnin bertitah bahawa memerangi rasuah sebagai musuh nombor satu negara adalah antara tumpuan utama dalam pemerintahan Baginda.
PM terkesan dengan kes rasuah Kastam di KLIA
Katanya, kecurangan masalah rasuah, biarpun membabitkan jabatan kecil di JKDM, masih boleh menyebabkan kerugian hampir RM2 bilion.
Kegiatan haram di KL: Lebih daripada seorang pegawai kanan polis dipercayai terlibat - Azam Baki
Lebih daripada seorang pegawai kanan Polis Diraja Malaysia dipercayai terlibat dalam aktiviti melindungi kegiatan haram di ibu negara, tegas Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Ops Samba 2.0: Ketirisan akibat penyeludupan di Kargo KLIA cecah RM2 bilion - KP SPRM
Jumlah ketirisan akibat kegiatan sindiket penyeludupan babitkan beberapa anggota Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia di Kargo KLIA mencecah RM2 bilion bagi tempoh tiga tahun lepas.
SPRM tahan pegawai kanan polis lindung aktiviti haram
SPRM menahan seorang pegawai kanan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur kerana disyaki terlibat melindungi aktiviti haram.
SPRM terima 17 kenderaan berteknologi tinggi, mantapkan penugasan bawa OKT
SPRM menerima 17 kenderaan SPV dilengkapi sistem teknologi tinggi bagi memantapkan beberapa operasi penugasan termasuk membawa OKT.
Kes menantu Muhyiddin: Tuduhan tanpa kehadiran pilihan terakhir - Azam Baki
Tuduhan tanpa kehadiran menjadi pilihan terakhir SPRM untuk mendakwa menantu Muhyiddin, iaitu Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan.
Dakwaan ditawar habuan: Tiada pegawai SPRM hubungi Wan Saiful - Azam Baki
SPRM nafi terdapat pegawainya menghubungi Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan selepas pendedahan beliau mengenai tawaran habuan untuk menyokong Perdana Menteri.
SPRM nafi tuduh Muhyiddin terbabit kontrak Spanco
Tan Sri Azam Baki berkata, kenyataan yang dikeluarkan sebelum ini bersifat umum dan tidak pernah mengaitkan Muhyiddin dalam kes berkenaan.