Malaysia confiscates 1,720 Bitcoin mining machines when combating electricity theft -

Bitcoin mining machines when combating power theft" Loading = "Lazy">

The police in Malaysia hired a Bitcoin mining operation and confiscated 1,720 Bitcoin mining machines for a large raid against electricity theft after public complaints. "The police inspected 75 rooms in the district, and 30 of them operated illegal Bitcoin mining activities and stole electricity."

Malaysian authorities close Bitcoin mining operation

The Malaysian police have taken a large power theft in connection with the Bitcoin mining, reported local media. Perak's chief of police, Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, said on Thursday at a press conference in the police headquarters of the Manjung district that the raid was carried out according to public complaints.

The chief of police found that the Operation Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the fire and rescue station Siteawan included, and explained:

This operation is the greatest success of TNB this year.

He found that the power theft had a value of around 2 million RM ($ 478,870) according to the TNB.

"The police inspected 75 buildings throughout the district, and it was found that 30 of them carry out illegal Bitcoin mining activities and steal electricity," said the police chief and added:

We confiscated 1,720 Bitcoin mining machines.

In addition, “15 monitors, 22 central units (CPUs), 16 keyboards, seven mice, 56 modems and a laptop” were confiscated, the police chief said. He added: "A Toyota Hilux, 44 exhaust fans, five alarm systems and seven video surveillance cameras were also confiscated."

Mior Faridalathrash explained that further examinations are carried out to identify the mastermind of the illegal Bitcoin mining process and to determine how long it has lasted.

The police also arrested a 28-year-old caretaker of the company premises in Ayer Tamar on suspicion of illegal Bitcoin mining activities and the participation in electricity theft. The chief of police stated:

The arrested man was taken into custody for four days and is examined in accordance with Sections 379 and 427 of the Criminal Code and the 1990 Electricity Pension Act.

In July, the Malaysian authorities completely destroyed 1.069 Bitcoin mining machines with a steam roller. The coins were confiscated at the beginning of the year.

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Kevin Helms

Kevin, a student of Austrian economics, found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open source systems, network effects and the interface between economy and cryptography.

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