Kota Kinabalu: Forty-one illegal immigrants were jailed by the Sessions Court, here, for entering Sabah without valid passes or permits.
They comprised 37 Filipinos and four Indonesians who pleaded guilty separately to the charges against them.
Of the total, 38 were jailed four months for entering Sabah illegally.
The remaining three were jailed a total of 10 months for illegally entering Sabah and re-entering the State after being deported. One of the accused was also ordered to receive one stroke of the cane.
The offences were committed under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, and whipping, on conviction.
For re-entering Sabah after deportation under Section 36 of the same Act, offenders may be fined up to RM10,000, jailed for up to five years, or both, and may also be whipped and removed from Malaysia.
The court ordered all 41 to serve their sentences from the date of arrest and to be referred to the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) after completing their jail terms for further action.
Meanwhile, a Chinese national was fined a total of RM15,000 after pleading guilty to two immigration offences under Sections 15(1)(c) and 56(1)(i) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
On the first charge, he was fined RM10,000, in default six months’ jail, for overstaying in Malaysia by 34 days.
His Special Pass was valid until July 8 this year, but he was found to still be in Malaysia on Aug 11.
The offence was detected at about 5.30pm at the Immigration Inspection Counter, International Departure Hall, Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
On the second charge, he was fined RM5,000, in default three months’ jail, for possessing an irregular Social Visit Pass dated Aug 4 this year without lawful authority.
The fines were paid, and the Chinese national was also ordered to be referred to JIM for further action.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Syarifah Nursyuhada Tuan Mamat and Immigration Officer Chin Tze Mee.
