Harbouring illegals in Kota Kinabalu: Man fined RM15,000
Published on: Thursday, May 02, 2024
By: Cynthia D Baga
The offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a jail term of up to a year, or a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.
Kota Kinabalu: A 37-year-old man was fined a total of RM15,000 for allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the premises under his control.
Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim meted out the sentence to Tan Kok Hong who pleaded guilty to the alternative charge against him.
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The court ordered Tan to pay a fine of RM5,000 in default 60 days behind bars for each of the illegal immigrants involved.
He was found allowing the three Filipinos aged 18, 22 and 26, who did not have any documents to stay in the Dovist Chicken Rice Sdn Bhd in Jalan Gaya, here.
The charge stated that Tan who was the person in charge of the premises, committed the offence at 12.30pm on Nov 15, 2023.
The offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a jail term of up to a year, or a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.
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Since Tan had admitted to the alternative charge, he was to be discharged from the main charge against him under Section 55B of the Immigration Act for hiring illegal immigrants.
During mitigation, Tan who was not represented, asked for a lower fine only saying that his business was not really good.
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Meanwhile, another two men were also ordered to pay a fine of RM5,000 or spend 60 days in prison each for permitting a Filipina, 25, who did not have document at 11.03pm on Aug 14, 2023 at the 18 Street Bar in Kepayan Point, Jalan Pintas, Penampang Dale Daivon and Aldrie Alphonsus who admitted to the charge against them were the persons who controlled the premises.
During mitigation, the duo respectively asked for leniency.
However, the prosecution urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence on them.
The court ordered the duo to pay RM2,000 on Tuesday and the balance of RM3,000 to be paid before or by June 6 this year.
Prosecuting Officer Abu Sopian Karate and Mohd Hairul Bona from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
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