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TAWAU: A local woman was jailed a total of four years on two charges of giving false information as a guarantor to two illegal foreigners who were not her biological children in 2011 and 2012.

Kartinadari Amai, 56, pleaded guilty to both charges before Magistrate Don Stiwin Malanjum who later sentenced her to two years in prison on each charge, which are to run consecutively.

On the first charge, Kartinadari was jailed two years for giving false information as the applicant and the mother of Mohd Hafik Julal when registering an identity card bearing serial number 990302-5059 at the Tawau National Registration Department (NRD) on March 11, 2011 at 10.09am.

On the second charge, she was jailed another two years for committing the same offence when registering an identity card bearing serial number 990514-12-6256 under the name Hasnani Julal at the Tawau NRD on Nov 16, 2012 at 3.42pm.

Kartinadari was charged under Regulation 25(1)(b) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amended 2007) and punishable under the same Regulations, which carries a jail term of up to three years, or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, on conviction.

Based on the facts of the case, on Jan 16, this year, the Tawau NRD received a complaint regarding a review of the NRD system and found that there were three children given birth by Kartinadari in 1999 but only a few months apart, namely Mohd Hafik (March 2, 1999), Hasnani (May 14, 1999) and Merna (June 8, 1999).

A further check found that two of her "children", namely Mohd Hafik and Hasnani, have been issued identity cards, while the other (Merna) has not yet been issued the document.

The testimony of the witnesses who were Kartinadari's biological children later confirmed that the three of them were not biological siblings and they also did not know their real biological parents.

Kartinadari has 12 biological children consisting of eight boys and four girls from her marriage to her husband, Julal Johor, in 1981.

NRD Prosecuting Officer Mohd Naser Mohd Nadzeri requested for a deterrent sentence by taking into account public interest and serious consequences because of Kartinadari's act.

He said his action of guaranteeing the identity card application for two individuals who were not her biological children and also illegal immigrants, was a serious offence, not to mention that they get all the facilities and advantages as Malaysian citizens when they actually were not eligible.

According to him, even though Kartinadari had pleaded guilty, the offence should not be taken lightly, not to mention that his actions caused a serious impact on the integrity of the legal system and public trust.

"Failure to enforce appropriate punishment will send the wrong signal to the community and may encourage others to engage in similar activities," he said.

Kartinadari was represented by Counsel Jhasarry P. Kang on behalf of the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK).