KUCHING: A former police officer was sentenced to two years in jail by the High Court here on today (April 1) for smuggling three migrants into the country through a palm oil plantation route in Sri Aman.
Dullah Nulhadi pleaded guilty to an alternative charge read before Judge Alexander Siew How Wai.
According to the alternative charge, Dullah was charged under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
He was accused of smuggling three migrants from Indonesia into the country using a sedan vehicle when he was detained at a roadblock at KM9, Jalan Sri Aman-Betong, around 4.50pm on June 13, 2023.
If convicted, Dullah could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to RM250,000, or both.
According to the facts of the case, around 4pm on June 13, 2023, the complainant, a police officer, and her team were involved in an operation codenamed ‘Op Tutup’ when they spotted a suspicious sedan vehicle during a roadblock.
During interrogation, Dullah claimed to be a police officer from a local police station, and the investigation confirmed his status as a policeman.
Dullah then requested permission to pass through the roadblock again with the Indonesian passengers but was warned by the policewoman not to engage in any illegal activity. He was subsequently allowed to pass through.
Later, at around 4.50pm on the same day, Dullah was again spotted passing through the same roadblock with three Indonesian migrants in the same sedan vehicle. He was detained by the police for questioning.
Further investigation revealed that the three migrants had entered Sarawak using a jungle route, and Dullah had been waiting at a guardhouse in a palm oil plantation to pick them up.
Additionally, the three smuggled migrants stated that the vehicle they were in was driven by Dullah.
As a result, the accused was found guilty of smuggling three Indonesian migrants into Sarawak using a sedan vehicle.
DPP Jean Siow Chung Hwei prosecuted the case while the accused was represented by counsel Simon Siah.
