14 Indonesians fined for sneaking into country illegally

TAWAU: The Magistrate’s Court here yesterday fined 14 Indonesians, including five women, for entering the country through a sea route that was not gazetted.

High Court deputy registrar Amir Shah Amir Hassan imposed RM5,000 to RM8,000 fines on the accused after they pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries for a fine of not more than RM10,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years’ or both.

The deputy registrar fined the men Suhardi bin Tahang, 39, Saperi bin Manja, 25, Abdullah bin Ramu, 20, Borhan bin Raide, 24, Chakir bin Bahar, 34, Muzakkir bin Mullak, 29, Rasa bin Pabe, 39, Mamak, 32 and Irfandi bin Jasman, 21, RM8,000 each in default four months’ jail.

The women, Norlela bte Nordin, 24, Eka Wulandari bte Suhardi, 20, Lenne bte Oleng, 19, Ertif bte Ambok, 30 and Mhuriah bte Deri, 43, were fined RM5,000 each in default one month’s jail.

All the accused were on a boat trying to enter the country illegally and were intercepted and detained by the marine police on July 14, at about 7.50pm at Mile 4 waters here. They were on a speed boat coming from Sungai Nyamok, Indonesia and were headed towards Kampung Hidayat, Tawau.

All of them did not possess any identification documents.

Prosecuting officer ASP Nur Intan Jamrin prosecuted.