Indonesian police reportedly shut down 10 mining operations and confiscated 1,314 Bitcoin machines, electrical cables and various computer parts.
North Sumatra police reportedly dismantled Bitcoin mining operations in 10 provinces in Indonesia.
26 people arrested
Indonesian police have shut down nearly 10 Bitcoin mining operations and charged the organizers with the theft of about $1 million in electricity, according to local reports.
North Sumatra Police Chief Agung Setya Imam Effendi said at a press conference: “Yesterday we took action in relation to electricity theft. “We have taken action against these thefts at 10 locations where we know the stolen electricity was used to power Bitcoin machines.”
According to Agung, the assailants stole electricity from state-run PNL poles and the thefts are believed to have occurred in the past six months.
“This is a neat mod. Because as you can see here, this is a box, a PLN box. However, the electricity flow within it is not electricity that has to go into the box, it is calculated in meters. What they then take, he explained, is “the one above it where the electricity is taken directly from the pole and passed inside.”
It is unclear whether the site is controlled by the same perpetrator.
According to a former Riau police chief, 26 people were arrested, but the legal status of those arrested was not disclosed. Former police chief Lee did not disclose whether the 10 locations where electricity theft occurred were managed by the same perpetrator, adding that the investigation is still ongoing. He said:
“We will learn more about the investigation process later. “We will enact a law and determine who the suspect is after examining evidence and investigating,” he said.
Authorities found 1,314 pieces of Bitcoin equipment, 11 computer CPU units, laptops and other evidence at the 10 sites they searched.
Power theft is a criminal offense in Indonesia and the former chief said his party would take action against those involved. He also said:
“We are doing our best. PLN and the police will take action against anyone involved in this electricity theft incident. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. Please take your time as this procedure is related to the Electricity Act to which we apply (Article 51 of Law No. 30 of 2009).”
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