Man found electrocuted beside Kota Tinggi TNB substation, cable theft attempt suspected

An undated file photograph shows yellow tape used by the Royal Malaysia Police to secure a perimeter. — Bernama pic

By Ben Tan

First Published: Monday, 12 Oct 2026 3:58 PM MYT

KOTA TINGGI, Oct 12 — An unidentified man was found  dead early this morning, believed to have been electrocuted while attempting to steal power cables near a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) substation in Felda Adela, near Sungai Rengit.

The deceased, who carried no identification documents, was discovered sprawled on the road shoulder by members of the public before dawn.

Kota Tinggi police chief Superintendent Yusof Othman said law enforcement was alerted after receiving an emergency call through the MERS 999 response system at 6.46am regarding an unconscious individual.

“Following the information, a police team from the Kota Tinggi district police headquarters were immediately despatched to the scene to investigate.

“Initial checks revealed the male victim lying about a metre away from the TNB substation and about 20 metres from the main road," he said in a statement.

“An examination of the victim’s body found no identification documents or any initial signs indicating foul play,” he added.

Yusof said that investigators combing the scene discovered an assortment of tools suspected to have been used in the attempted cable theft.

“The items found included a small hoe measuring 45 centimetres, a cordless grinder, a steel hammer, a pipe wrench and a headlamp.”

Initial findings suggest the man died from an electric shock while attempting to cut live cabling in the vicinity. Police are currently working to ascertain his identity and confirm the official cause of death.

The body was transported to the Kota Tinggi Hospital forensic unit for a post-mortem, and police have classified the case as a sudden death report.