Kota Kinabalu: A 49-year-old woman who induced an underaged illegal immigrant to apply for a MyKad using her son’s birth certificate was jailed two years.
Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles meted out the sentence to Noor Azimah Jan Badiol Zaman, who pleaded guilty, Friday.
Noor Azimah who declared herself as a mother of the 16-year-old boy, had committed the offence when he tried to register a MyKad for Muhammad Qhairil who was not her biological son.
The offence took place at the National Registration Department (NRD) branch here at 4.29pm on Dec 16, 2018.
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It was learnt that this was the first case under Regulation 25(1)(h) brought to court in Sabah.
During mitigation, Noor Azimah who was not represented, asked for a minimum sentence saying that she has small children to look after and that it was her first offence.
She also told the court that she was from a poor family and promised not to repeat the offence.
However, Prosecuting Officer Mohamad Faizal Tahir from the NRD urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence due to the seriousness of the offence and as a lesson to Noor Azimah.
“Although a guilty plea is an important step towards recovery, it cannot be ignored that such actions damage public trust in the integrity of the legal system.
“Even though Noor Azimah admitted to the charge, the court must consider the direct effects of her action on the victim and the community as a whole in determining an appropriate punishment,” said Mohamad.
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