KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 -- The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has uncovered that companies behind billion-ringgit projects are stealing treated water to maximise profits.

SPAN detects about 100 cases of water theft each year, with 40 per cent of them brought to court, as reported by the New Straits Times.

"These 100 cases reported annually typically involve projects ranging from small to large-scale. However, the issue has become increasingly serious, with many large foreign companies involved," said SPAN deputy public prosecutor Mohd Suhairy Zakaria today.

"The value of their projects is substantial, reaching billions of ringgit. Yet, in their quest to maximise profits, they resort to stealing water for use in their construc...