MIRI: Police have broken up a cable theft operation responsible for an electricity supply disruption in the Kuala Baram area, following the arrest of three local suspects in a coordinated enforcement operation.
Two men were detained by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, working with Sarawak Energy’s auxiliary police, after intelligence-led investigations linked the suspects directly to the theft and damage of electrical substation cables.
The incident came to light after Sarawak Energy reported a power outage on Dec 27, last year. Subsequent inspections confirmed that cables at the Kuala Baram substation had been deliberately damaged and removed, compromising a critical component of the local power network.
Further inquiries led investigators to a third suspect, a woman believed to have acted as a purchaser of the stolen copper cables. Police seized a quantity of copper cable from her possession, suspected to be proceeds from the theft, to assist ongoing investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 431A of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Police said offences involving the theft and sabotage of public infrastructure would be dealt with decisively, warning that individuals who damage essential facilities or trade in stolen materials would face swift and firm legal action.
Authorities have also called on the public to report suspicious activity near electrical installations or the sale of copper cables, as enforcement efforts against infrastructure-related crimes are stepped up across the district.
