KENINGAU: A total of 19 individuals were arrested during a recent operation against an alleged illegal organisation, Kappa Rho Kappa (KRK), also known as Knights of the Right Keeper’s.
They were charged in court under the Societies Act 1966 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
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The case was heard on July 2 and of the 19 arrested, four had valid identification documents while the 15 did not.
Under the first charge, brought under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966, 11 individuals were charged, while the remaining eight were not charged under that provision.
The court sentenced the four individuals with valid documents to seven months’ imprisonment from the date of their arrest or a RM4,500 fine. All four paid the fine.
Six undocumented individuals were sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment from the date of arrest and will be handed over to the Immigration Department after completing their jail terms.
A child was issued a Warrant of Commitment under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code and ordered to be placed at Kepayan Prison. The court also ordered a social welfare report from the Social Welfare Department and a dental assessment to verify the child’s age.
Under a second charge under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, 15 individuals, comprising 10 adults and five children, appeared before Magistrate Flavian Edward Henry.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Esther Cynthia Jebon.
The court sentenced two individuals to five months’ imprisonment from the date of arrest before they are handed over to the Immigration Department upon completing their sentences.
Another eight individuals were sentenced to four months’ imprisonment from the date of arrest, one stroke of the cane, and will also be handed over to the Immigration Department after serving their prison terms.
The five children were also issued Warrants of Commitment under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code and ordered to be placed at Kepayan Prison pending social welfare reports and dental assessments to confirm their ages.
In Ranau, two suspected KRK members were arrested on June 7 for promoting the organisation. The suspects were remanded following an order by the Ranau Magistrate’s Court after an application by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department.
Authorities said two other suspected members of the Zamboanga-based group had been arrested earlier. Initial online checks indicate the organisation is believed to have a chapter in Sabah.
