KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Session in Kangar has sentenced a business owner to 10 months jail after the suspect was found guilty of siphoning water supply for his premises in Jejawi, Perlis.
The individual was found guilty of illegally making direct water supply connections without a meter to the service water pipe (i.e., meter connection) using a flexible white pipe of ½ inch size on Dec 14, last year.
The suspect had illegally used the water supply for approximately 11 years, seven months and four days (from December 1, 2009, to September 4, 2020).
This, despite the enforcement efforts taken by the Perlis Water Company Sdn Bhd.
"The water supply was used for the daily activities at the suspect's business premises, which involved supplying or selling car air conditioners, as well as buying and selling car parts and accessories.
"This offense falls under Section 123 (1) of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 [Act 655], where if convicted, the individual may be punished under Section 123 (3) with a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both," National Water Services Commission (SPAN) said in a statement.
SPAN hopes that this prosecution case will raise public awareness about water theft and unauthorised connections as part of efforts to prevent such irresponsible activities.
"Such actions can also contribute to reducing the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate resulting from illegal connections.
"SPAN also encourages the public to report suspected cases of theft to SPAN via WhatsApp at 013-388 5000 or email at aduan@span.gov.my," it said.