TAWAU: Three locals who allowed their MyKads to be used by a syndicate involved in trafficking in illegal immigrants were jailed and fined, Tuesday.
Abdul Habil Mobin, 58, and Fatimah Hasan, 50, were each jailed two months and fined RM2,500 or two months’ jail while Durinah Suaib, 36, was jailed 12 weeks, after they pleaded guilty before Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu and Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus, separately.
Abdul Habil and Fatimah committed the offence at the National Registration Department (NRD) UTC Tawau Office on March 24 at 4pm. The charge stated that they did not comply with Rule 6, i.e. failing to carry their identity cards all the times.
Durinah committed the offence at the same place and time.
All were arrested during Ops Lancar in Semporna by a team of Investigation and Enforcement Division officers from NRD between 10am and 10.30am, respectively, in house raids in Kg Air and Kg Panji, Semporna, on March 24. They admitted lending the documents to others.
The trio were charged under Regulation 25 (1)(n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (Amended 2007) which carries a jail term of up to three years, or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, if convicted.
Durinah who was represented by counsel Jhesseny P. Kang from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) asked for leniency while Abdul Habil and Fatimah who were not represented also begged for a light sentence.
Fatimah asked for no custodial sentence because her husband was not working.
“I feel like I want to die while in lockup, I can't sleep... I will not repeat this anymore” she said, claiming she was suffering from hypertension and anaemia.
NRD Prosecuting Officer Mohamad Faizal Tahir urged the court to impose appropriate sentence as a lesson not only for the trio but also for the community about the importance of identity documents.
The government, he said, incurs high cost to constantly improve the security features of the identity cards issued to every citizen of this country.
He further submitted the accused had defamed the sovereignty and security of the country and that the identity card is a sensitive issue.
Mohamad Faizal said giving someone’s identity or document to an illegal immigrant was an act of betrayal to him/herself and the country.
The syndicate was busted by the NRD in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police, recently.
Following that, five Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) officers on duty at Tawau Airport (LTT) were also arrested on March 23 because they were suspected of being involved in the syndicate.
Meanwhile, another Immigration officer on duty at LTT was also reported to be detained by MACC on Monday, making it six so far.
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