Firm fined RM20,000 for harbouring illegal immigrants 

Kota Kinabalu: A company was fined a total of RM20,000 for allowing four illegal immigrants to stay in its premises.

Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz handed the sentence to Buga Food Sdn Bhd after its Company Manager, pleaded guilty to the charge against the company on Thursday.

The company was ordered to pay RM5,000 or two months’ jail for each foreigner involved.

The company was found permitting the four Filipinos, age between 24 and 42, to remain in the said premises at 11.06pm on Feb 7, 2020 at Anjung Samudera KK Waterfront, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens here.

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.

During mitigation, the representative of the company asked for leniency saying that the company started its business in 2018 and due to the Covid-19, its income was not so good.

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