Kota Kinabalu: A 42-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman were fined a total of RM60,000 for hiring illegal immigrants and allowing them to stay in their premises, respectively.
Weili Chai Shing Fook and Lovinth @ Betty Balantai pleaded guilty separately before Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz.
Chai was fined RM10,000 or two months’ jail for each illegal immigrant involved and he had hired four foreigners.
He must pay a total of RM40,000.
Chai was found employing the three Filipinos and an Indonesians aged 17 and 41, at 9.45am on March 15, 2021 at the Highly Marine Products Sdn Bhd in KKIP, here.
The offence under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a jail term of to a year, or a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.
The court granted Chai’s application to pay the fine by four instalments and he was ordered to pay RM5,000 immediately for the first payment, second payment on Feb 28, third payment on March 31 and the last payment on April 25 this year.
Meanwhile, Lovinth was fined RM5,000 in default two months’ jail for each illegal immigrant involved and there were four illegal immigrants.
She must pay a total of RM20,000.
Lovinth had allowed the an Indonesian and three Filipinos without any documents to stay in her premises at a rented house in Lorong Tinda Kg Nossob Baru, Penampang at 3.45am on Oct 13, 2021.
Lovinth’s application to pay the fines by instalments was granted in which Lovinth must pay RM10,000 with the second payment of RM10,000 on or Feb 28.
During mitigation, both of them asked for leniency.
Prosecuting Officers Zaifee Zaimin from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
