Kota Kinabalu: Seven Filipinos were jailed four months each for entering the State illegally.
They were Zul Albanti, Jie Sahisa, Shem Muhamad, Fhadzreyn Muhammad, Jimang Aslama @ Anjimar, Siti Ragina Bambra and Edan Idjik.
Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain handed the sentence to the illegal immigrants after they pleaded guilty to entering the State without valid documents.
The offence under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 provides for a jail term of up to five years, or a fine of up to RM10,000, and whipping, on conviction.
The illegals were arrested by the police at a Kongsi house in a construction site in Beaufort on Jan 24 this year after failing to produce their identification documents.
During mitigation, they informed the court that they had stayed in the State without any documents for several months and years and worked as labourers.
They asked to be deported to their respective hometowns as soon as possible.
The court ordered them to serve the jail sentence from the date of arrests.
After completing their jail sentence, all of the illegals were ordered referred to the Immigration Department and their biometric data to be taken.
Meanwhile, a Filipino was jailed a year for staying in the State for three years and four months after his special pass had been expired.
Teng Hj Man Kasim admitted to overstaying in the State after his document had expired on Sept 21, 2021 and was arrested on Jan 22 this year at a construction site in Mile 3, Jalan Penampang.
Prosecuting Officer Mohd Hairul Bona from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
