Construction manager fined for harbouring illegals

Kota Kinabalu: A senior construction manager was fined RM50,000 for allowing 10 illegal immigrants to stay in his premises.

Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz handed the sentence to Liew En Ming, 70, after he pleaded guilty to the charge against him on Monday.

Liew was ordered to pay RM5,000 or two months’ jail for each foreigners involved.

He was found permitting an Indonesian and nine Filipinos, age between 23 and 45, to remain at the Mixed Use Development On premises at Jalan Bunga Ulam Raja off Jalan Tuaran, here at 10.50am on May 14, 2019.

The Indonesian and Filipinos did not have any social work passes.

The offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a jail term of up to a year, or a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.

Liew paid the fine on Monday.

During mitigation, Liew asked for leniency.

Prosecuting Officer Zaifee Zaimin of the Immigration Department urged the court to impose an adequate sentence, as such cases are rampant nowadays.

In another court, a 53-year-old man was fined RM2,000 in default 30 days’ jail for having for sale products that containing poison.

Munavar Abdul Majeed admitted to having for sale six boxes of Choco Fit containing Sibutramine, a type of scheduled poison under the Poison Act 1952.

Requesting for leniency, Munavar informed the court that his business was not good due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that he has children to look after.

However, the prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.