Man sentenced for stealing electricity to mine Bitcoin

According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, a 62-year-old man surnamed Huang from Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan was sentenced in July for mining Bitcoin. The Taiwan prosecutor’s office recently received a report that Huang was suspected of returning to his old business. On the 21st, he directed the police to investigate and seized more than 800 Bitcoin mining machines.

The Chiayi District Court Prosecutor's Office revealed that Huang had previously set up a Bitcoin mining room in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County. In order to reduce electricity expenses, he privately hired workers to change the electricity meter to steal electricity, reducing electricity consumption from more than 20,000 kWh per month to more than 4,000 kWh.

When Taipower staff replaced the meter last year, they found that the meter at Huang's residence had been altered. During the investigation by the prosecutors and police, Huang's mother was originally held responsible, but the judge found that the 83-year-old mother had no idea about the power lines and usage. In the end, Huang was sentenced to eight months in prison for stealing electricity, which he could redeem by paying a fine.

The Chiayi District Prosecutor's Office recently received a report that Huang was suspected of returning to his old business and renting a site in Dongshi Township as a Bitcoin mining room. On the 21st, the prosecutor directed the police to conduct an investigation together with Taipower staff.

Investigators found that the cables related to the electricity meter at the site rented by Huang had been unplugged and the circuit box had been modified. More than 800 Bitcoin mining machines were seized on the spot.

However, Huang claimed that he was "mining legally" and that the Bitcoin mining machines were "legally imported and not gambling tools" and should be dealt with separately from stealing electricity.

The prosecution stated that Huang is suspected of stealing electricity, fraud, breach of trust and other crimes, and that the Bitcoin mining machine is a tool of crime. In addition to seizing it according to law, the suspected criminals will also be interrogated.