Man who refused to pay over R500k outstanding electricity bill chose to bribe power officials in Dainfern

A Dainfern man who tried to play smart with his electricity bills has been apprehended.

The man had nearly R500,000 outstanding on his electricity bill and he still went ahead to offer bribe to the City Power officials who cut him off.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said “the suspect was arrested at his house in Dainfern during a sting operation led by a Johannesburg metro police undercover unit,” said

The suspect was among the 19 customers whose power got disconnected in a cut-off operation on Wednesday.

He owes City Power R463,000 for electricity.

“The customer offered City Power technicians R5,000 to be reconnected after his house was cut off. The technicians agreed to come back the following day to reconnect him and get the money,” said Mangena.

He added that the police were alerted of this move and a sting operation was launched.

The man was arrested in his home after he allegedly gave the technicians and the police with R1,500.

The police opened a case of bribery and the man has been detained at the Douglasdale police station.

“We warn our customers against offering bribes to City Power officials as this is a serious criminal offence,” added Mangena.