Perak enforcement officer remanded over bitcoin mining

A Perak-based enforcement officer was arrested early today for allegedly receiving payment of RM12,000 a month to protect bitcoin mining centres in the state.

According to a source, a remand order was issued for the 34-year-old by the Magistrate’s Court in Ipoh.

The suspect is in remand for five days until next Monday.

The source said the suspect who is also believed to own a bitcoin mining centre, was detained following the arrest of a tycoon said to control 500 bitcoin mining premises nationwide.

“Investigations also revealed ownership of bitcoin mining centres among senior officers of enforcement agencies, but the centres are run by syndicate members on behalf of the officers concerned,” the source told Bernama today.

On Tuesday, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki said electricity theft by a bitcoin mining syndicate from 2018 to 2021 had caused the government losses of over RM2.3 billion.

This resulted in the arrest of 18 local men, including the syndicate’s mastermind, in a nationwide operation on Monday.

Meanwhile, at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court today, a company director was remanded for four days for allegedly bribing a Tenaga Nasional officer in connection with electricity supply for bitcoin mining activities.

The remand order was issued by magistrate Nur Farahain Roslan following an application by the MACC.

According to an MACC source, the 33-year-old man was arrested at the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.Perak enforcement officer remanded over bitcoin mining