Business proprietor fined for harbouring illegal

Kota Kinabalu: A business owner was on Wednesday fined RM5,000 or two months jail by the Sessions Court for allowing a Filipina illegal immigrant to stay in his premises.

Chung Siew Chin pleaded guilty before Judge Azreena Aziz to permitting the 47-year-old Filipina, who has no travel pass, to stay at the  four-storey showroom and office extension adjacent to an existing two-storey office warehouse at KM 8, Jalan Tuaran here.

The offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act provides for a fine of between RM5,000 or 30,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or both on conviction for each illegal immigrant found at the premises.

In another case, four people were fined a total of RM3,200 by the Magistrate’s Court for engaging in a gambling session.

Wong Guang Giong, Ting Huat Tee, Marzuki Romie and Rohani Alip admitted before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie to committing the offence at 6.30pm on Feb 12 this year in Penampang.

The court ordered the four to pay a fine of RM800 or one week jail each and also ordered the seized money of RM440 to be forfeited by the government through the prosecution.

The four were charged under Section 17(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Meanwhile, two persons were penalised for having syabu.

Rosna Belnang and Mazlan Ta, separately pleaded guilty to committing the offence under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Rosna was sentenced to eight months jail from the date of her arrest on July 18, 2020 while Mazlan was fined RM3,000 or eight months jail.

The court also ordered Rosna, a foreigner, to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving his sentence.

The charge against Rosna and Mazlan provides for a fine of up to RM100,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both on conviction.