Restaurant operator denies employing illegals

KOTA KINABALU: A 49year-old man was charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday with hiring three illegal immigrants at his eatery premises.

Richard Ho Fui Tshung, who appeared before judge Azreena Aziz, pleaded not guilty to a charge under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a fine of not less than RM10,000 but not more than RM50,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or to both for each employee.

He was accused of employing a woman and two men, aged between 20 and 47, who were not in possession of a valid pass, at Restoran Beaufort in Penampang at 12pm on May 8.

The court fixed November 13 and 14 this year for trial and released the accused on RM10,000 bail with a local surety, pending disposal of the case.

Prosecuting officer from the Immigration Department Juachim Abel Majain told the court that the prosecution would be calling six witnesses to testify against the accused.

Counsel Luke Ressa Balang represented the accused.

Meanwhile in the same court, 12 men and a woman were jailed between four and five months for entering the state without valid travel documents.

The judge imposed the sentence on all the foreigners, aged between 18 and 50, after they pleaded guilty to each of their charge under Section 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or to both and also liable to whipping of not more than six strokes, upon conviction.

Five of the men were also ordered to be whipped once while others were spared due to their age and gender and all of them to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentences.