The National Power Administration of Paraguay (ANDE) stressed that this 2-year conviction against two individuals would set a precedent against energy theft, punishing not only those who perpetrate it but also those who facilitate it to protect the national electricity system.
Key Takeaways:
ANDE won a case on June 19 against two bitcoin miners, hardening the posture against illegal theft.The court suspended the 2-year jail sentence, setting a legal precedent for property owners.Following a 2024 case that cost $1.5M, ANDE will expand controls to stop illegal mining grids.Nonetheless, even as they were found guilty, the court suspended the execution of the sentence. Even so, the ruling was described as a milestone for the power company, which stressed that it will serve as a strong precedent due to the nature of the case.
This is because one of the defendants, who held the contract with the power company at the location where the miners were discovered, failed to show that he did not know about the use of his property for these means, being also affected by the ruling.
“This judicial decision sets a powerful precedent by establishing that justice will reach not only those who carry out illegal connections but also those who facilitate, permit, or benefit from actions that compromise the national electricity system,” ANDE stressed.
Furthermore, it reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance policy regarding actions that undermine the national electricity system,” vowing to “continue to strengthen controls and legal measures to ensure that those who obtain electricity through illicit means are held accountable before the law.”
The move is part of a fierce fight that the administration has been fighting against illegal mining and energy theft for some years, as these activities have caused millions in losses for the institution and the country.
