Man with multiple priors nabbed for allegedly trying to steal Sesco transformer

The transformer which was believed to have been forcibly pulled down from its pole-mounted panel.
MUKAH (June 10): A 26-year-old local man with multiple prior criminal and drug-related records was arrested on Monday for allegedly attempting to steal a transformer belonging to Syarikat Sesco Berhad in Kuala Balingian.
Mukah police chief DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias said the arrest was made at 2.30pm on June 9 after a police investigation by the district's Criminal Investigation Division.
The case was first reported when a Sesco technician arrived at the scene and found a 50kVA transformer had been forcibly brought down from its pole-mounted panel.
Three unidentified individuals were seen fleeing into the nearby bushes upon the technician's arrival.
'Based on intelligence gathered, our team successfully apprehended one of the suspects. He has five previous criminal records and two records for drug offences,' he said in a statement today, adding that the estimated losses were RM20,000.
Tools seized that were believed to have been used by the suspects.
Muhamad Rizal said the police also seized several tools believed to have been used to tamper with the transformer and steal electrical cables.
'According to investigations, the suspects' modus operandi involved pulling the transformer down using a vehicle before dismantling it to extract copper components for resale.'
The suspect has been remanded for four days until June 14 to assist in further investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft and Section 431A of the Penal Code for mischief involving utility infrastructure.
'Efforts are ongoing to identify and locate the suspect's accomplices and the vehicle used in the attempted theft.' crime Sesco transformer theft

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