AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Monday said that its personnel have documented a total of 7,678 electricity thefts during the first five months of this year.

In a statement on Monday, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said that the commission detected 4,147 of the total electricity thefts while the security bodies and electricity distribution companies detected 1,111 and 2,420 cases respectively.

Hiyari added that 1,443 electricity theft lawsuits have been filed during the first five months of 2019 with courts issuing final rulings for 803 cases, according to the statement.

The number of violations recorded by the commission within the Jordan Electric Power Company’s regions was 2,690 while 1,058 and 399 cases were within the areas of Irbid District Electricity Company and the Electricity Distribution Company, the statement said.

The commission and concerned authorities will continue to intensify and scale up the inspection campaigns during official working hours and on holidays, to combat electricity theft and address attempts to tamper with the electrical system, Hiyari added.

The law stipulates that anyone who tampers with the electrical system or is involved in electricity theft faces imprisonment from six months to two years, a fine between JD2,000 and JD10,000, or both.

Under the law, all those who intentionally vandalise, destroy or hinder the work of power facilities or cause them any damage shall face imprisonment terms between one to three years or a fine ranging between JD2,000 and JD100,000 or both. The penalty can be stiffened if the violation causes danger to public safety.

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