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Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the 28-year-old suspect, who worked at a business premises, was arrested in Ayer Tawar here in a special bitcoin integrated operation with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Sitiawan fire station from 9am to 10pm yesterday.
“Police inspected 75 premises around the district, and 30 of them were found to be carrying out illegal bitcoin mining activities and stealing electricity,” he said at a press conference at the Manjung district police headquarters here today.
He added that police, among others, seized 1,720 bitcoin mining machines, 15 units of monitors, 22 computer CPUs, 16 keyboards, 56 modems, a Toyota Hilux vehicle, 44 fans, seven closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and a laptop.
Mior Faridalathrash also said police were still conducting a detailed investigation on the mastermind responsible and how long these activities were being carried out.
TNB estimated that the theft of electricity was worth about RM2 million, he said.
The suspect was remanded for four days. The case is being investigated for theft and mischief.
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