Kota Kinabalu: A 32-year-old China national was fined a total of RM25,000 by the Sessions Court here for harbouring five illegal immigrants at premises under his control.
Li Hao pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain, who imposed a RM5,000 fine for each illegal immigrant involved. In default of payment, Li will face six months’ imprisonment per charge.
Li was found to have allowed five Filipino nationals — two women and three men, aged between 18 and 48 — who lacked valid travel documents, to remain at the Liubaba Lease premises in Taman Emas, Jalan Penampang, around 9.10pm on July 10 this year.
The offence falls under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and is punishable under Section 55E(2) of the same Act.
The law provides for a fine between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, for each illegal immigrant found on the premises.
In mitigation, Li appealed for leniency. However, Prosecuting Officer Mohd Sharifuddin Salim urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent.
In a separate case in the same court, four Filipino nationals were jailed four months each after pleading guilty to entering the State without valid travel documents.
Nanette Sapnay Pili, Cherry Mae Sampung Bernardino, Junaida Omar, and Kc Marwuez Sanchez were arrested during an Immigration enforcement operation at an entertainment outlet in Tanjung Aru at 1.20am on Aug 3.
The four failed to produce valid identification documents during the operation.
The court ordered their sentences to run from the date of their arrest. They will be referred to the Immigration Department upon completion of their prison term.
