Electricity thief gets one-year jail term, fined $25,000

Sep 29, 2009 News

A New Amsterdam housewife found out that it would have cost her less to pay for the electricity she was using rather than to steal it.

Anita Singh, of Angoy’s Avenue (Cow Dam), New Amsterdam, Berbice, received a one- year suspended sentence and a $25,000 fine when she appeared before Magistrate Chandra Sohan at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulent diversion of electricity (stealing).

The police stated that on September 17, last, a joint Guyana Police Force and Guyana Power and Light Inc. team visited the area.

While conducting checks they found that Singh’s house while not being a part of the GPL network, was still hooked up to the company’s system and was receiving electricity.

She was told of the offence, arrested and charged.

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated has resumed raids aimed at reducing its losses from electricity theft.