Kota Kinabalu: Eight illegal immigrants were jailed four months each for entering the State illegally.
They were Albasir Asil, Dayang Mila Saldam, Karima Angging, Sitti Rahma Salim, Elma Fuentes, Isma Abdullah, Lisa Rajan and Sabah Mohd Yusuf, aged 30 and 50.
Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain handed the sentence to the illegal immigrants after they pleaded guilty to entering the State without their 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 illegal foreigners were arrested by the Immigration personnel at different places in Putatan, Tuaran, Penampang and here in February 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.
The foreigners asked to be deported to their respective hometowns as soon as possible. The court ordered the foreigners to serve the jail sentence from the date of their arrests.
After completing their jail sentence, all the illegals were ordered referred to the Immigration Department for further action.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani was fined RM10,000 or jailed six months for overstaying in the State.
Asghar Muhammad Nabeel admitted to staying in the State after his Social Visit Pass had expired on Jan 23 and had overstayed for one week and four days.
He was arrested on Feb 5 at 12.30pm in Putatan. Asghar was ordered referred to the Immigration Department after paying the fine or serving the jail sentence.
Prosecuting Officer Chin Tze Mee from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
