Kota Kinabalu: A total of 18 illegal immigrants were sentenced after pleading guilty to committing various offences under the Immigration Act.
Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain handed down sentences to the illegal immigrants who are from Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan after they pleaded guilty separately to the charges against them.
Of the total, 11 Filipinos and one Indonesian were jailed for four months from the date of arrest for entering Sabah without valid passes.
They committed offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both upon conviction.
Two other accused persons were charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying in Sabah.
A Pakistani man was fined RM10,000 or spend 12 months’ imprisonment, while a Filipino woman was sentenced to 12 months’ jail.
The section provides for a fine of not less than RM10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.
Meanwhile, three Filipino men were jailed four months after pleading guilty to entering Sabah without valid passes.
The trio were also sentenced to six months’ jail plus one stroke of the cane for illegally re-entering Sabah after previously being deported or removed from the country.
Another Pakistani man was fined a total of RM4,500 to entering the State without a valid pass and violating the conditions of the pass issued to him.
The court also ordered all the accused to be referred to the Malaysian Immigration Department for further action after completing their respective jail terms or paying fine.
Prosecuting Officer Kamrul Md Yusof from the Immigration Department prosecuted.
