SHAH ALAM: The High Court has upheld a ruling ordering frozen food wholesaler Siah Fishery Seafood Sdn Bhd to pay RM444,444.40 to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) for electricity charges that went unrecorded due to meter tampering.
Justice Jamhirah Ali found the company liable for installing a clamp at the terminal block inside the electricity meter, causing it to significantly under-record power consumption at its premises.
According to the court, a technical analysis revealed that only 7.16% of actual electricity usage was recorded, resulting in a loss of 92.84%—a discrepancy the judge described as substantial and deliberate.
“This is not a minor error. It clearly indicates that electricity was consumed but not accurately recorded,” Jamhirah said in her ruling.
The court noted that one of Siah Fishery’s employees admitted to installing the clamp during trial, while the company’s owner acknowledged using the device to reduce electricity bills.
“They clearly benefitted financially from the unrecorded consumption of electricity, to the detriment of TNB,” the judge added.
Siah Fishery had initially filed a lawsuit against TNB, seeking a refund of RM236,057.60. The company claimed the amount was paid without justification after TNB had already disconnected its power supply in 2022.
However, the High Court rejected the company’s claim, ruling that there was no evidence of coercion.
“The payment arrangement was entered into voluntarily during a negotiation session in 2022,” said Jamhirah, dismissing Siah Fishery’s suit with costs.
TNB’s counterclaim for RM444,444.40—the estimated value of unrecorded electricity—was allowed in full.
