Joint task force to address the issue of cables and metal thefts

Police have formed a joint task force with the Ministry of Commerce and Trade and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in collaboration with Telecom Fiji Limited, Water Authority of Fiji and Energy Fiji Limited to address the issue of cables and metal thefts.

Police say they have received a report that a 40 metre cable from a Lautoka Telecom Fiji Limited’s manhole cable junction was stolen last week.

They say scrap metal companies are reminded not to accept copper, aluminum, brass and other materials suspected to belong to the three critical infrastructure companies.

Police are reminding the public that under the Scrap Metal Trade Act Section 5 (1), it's an offence for any person or body who trades or attempts to trade or solicits another person to trade any public infrastructure without the approval of the Licensing Authority shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction in the case of a natural person to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both, and in the case of a company to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

Scrap metal dealers are also warned that it's an offence to buy any public infrastructure metal from any person who is not authorized by the Licensing Authority and shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction in the case of a natural person to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both, and in the case of a company to a fine not exceeding $100,000.