The Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) approved a bill that increases penalties for theft, robbery and receiving stolen cables, wires and equipment used in the transmission of electrical energy.
Bill 4.872/2024 establishes stricter penalties for those who commit this type of crime. Cable theft could lead to sentences ranging from 2 to 8 years in prison. In cases of robbery, the sentence could be up to 16 years in prison.
Situations involving the interruption of essential public services or occurring during public calamities also aggravate the situation.
Enel Rio recorded 150 thousand cases of energy theft last year
In addition to theft and robbery, the project consolidates sanctions for the illegal purchase or resale of stolen material, the penalty for which may vary from 3 to 8 years in prison with a fine.
According to Marcelo Castro, rapporteur and senator (MDB-PI), increasing penalties is necessary given the frequency of crimes involving communications infrastructure in Brazil.
He highlighted that the cable market moves around R$7,4 billion, of which around R$2,4 billion comes from illicit sources.
Dorinha Seabra, senator (União-TO), expressed for the proposal, citing examples of damage caused in Tocantins. “In my state, especially Palmas, we have a bridge, which is a postcard of ours, that is never lit, given the number of thefts and, of course, interceptions.”
For the senator, the new legislation should better protect public services and reduce economic losses. The bill also introduces adjustments to the General Telecommunications Law, preventing operators and concessionaires from being punished when service interruptions are caused by criminal actions.
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