SIBU: A 36-year-old man was fined a total of RM60,000 by the Sessions Court here on Friday (May 26) for hiring six illegal immigrants. In default of payment, he would face 18 months’ imprisonment.
Judge Marutin Pagan convicted Ngu from Jalan Hua Kiew on the charge and imposed a fine of RM10,000, in default, three months’ jail for each illegal immigrant employed.
According to the charge sheet, the accused had employed six illegal immigrants at his trading company located in Jalan Ding Lik Kwong on May 6, around 4.26pm.
The offence falls under Section 55B(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), which carries a penalty of a fine ranging from RM10,000 to RM50,000, imprisonment up to 12 months, or both, for each illegal employee.
During the proceedings, prosecuting officer Ghaiazri Mohamad Ali from the Immigration Department informed the court that on May 6, at approximately 4.26pm, a team of Immigration officers led by deputy Assistant Director of Immigration, Cosmas Raymond Morris conducted an operation, Ops Bersepadu/Ops Mahir, at a trading company in Jalan Ding Lik Kwong.
As a result of the inspection, six Indonesian citizens were detained and arrested on suspicion of working illegally, thus violating the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Further investigation revealed that the six illegal immigrants had indeed committed an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63. They admitted to working at the trading company owned by the accused, despite lacking any valid entry passes into Malaysia. On May 23, they pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
The accused, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, opted to pay the fine.
