Kota Kinabalu: Three women from Thailand and one from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, who entered the state as tourists, were each fined RM1,000 or sentenced to six months’ jail for violating the conditions of their Social Visit passes by working as sex workers.
Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain imposed the sentence on Janpan Srisuda, 38, Srimanee La Or, 29, and Sae Liao Najha, 35, all from Thailand, as well as Phomavanh Phonevilai, 31, from Laos, after they each pleaded guilty to the charge.
Janpan and Srimanee were found breaching their pass conditions by working as prostitutes at around 12.30am on Aug 13 this year in separate rooms of a hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, Phomavanh and Sae committed a similar offence at the same time and date, but in different rooms of a hotel in Penampang.
They were charged under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, which carries a maximum fine of RM1,000 or up to six months’ jail, or both, upon conviction.
All four women paid their fines.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Syarifah Nursyuhada appeared for the prosecution.
Meanwhile, 10 illegal immigrants were jailed four months each for entering the State illegally.
The illegal immigrants comprising Indonesians and Filipinos pleaded guilty to entering the State without their valid documents.
All of them were arrested during operations by the Immigration Department at different places in the city, recently.
During the operations, they failed to produce their valid documents to the Immigration personnel.
They committed the offence under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 which provides for a jail term of up to five years, or a fine of up to RM10,000, and whipping, on conviction.
In mitigation, the illegal immigrants begged for leniency and to be deported to their hometown as soon as possible.
The court ordered them to serve the jail sentence from the date of their arrests and after serving the jail term, they were referred to the Immigration Department for deportation.
