Filipino fined RM4,000 over fake endorsement in passport

KOTA KINABALU: A Filipino was fined RM4,000, in default, four months jail for having a fake immigration endorsement in his passport to enable him to stay in Sabah.

Jacob Aser Daronday, 42, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz, yesterday after the charge was read to him.

He was found to have committed the offence at the immigration counter at the departure hall of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at 6.30 pm on November 9, 2017.

The offence, framed under Section 56 (1)(l) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 and punishable under Section 56 (1)(aa) of the same Act, carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or a maximum five years jail or both upon conviction.

In mitigation, counsel Ram Singh, representing Jacob, pleaded for a lenient fine on the grounds that Jacob had obtained the endorsement from an agent in Sandakan with a payment of RM500. He said, Jacob, who has five children under his care, did not know that the endorsement was a fake.

Prosecuting officer from the Immigration Department, Juachim Abel Majain, pressed for a deterrent sentence to be imposed against the accused.

The court also ordered for Jacob to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving his sentence.

Meanwhile, the same court sentenced 13 men and a woman to jail terms of between four and five months for entering the State illegally.

All of the foreigners who appeared before the judge pleaded guilty as charged under Section 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The indictment carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years and also liable to whippings of not more than six strokes, upon conviction.

All of them were arrested during separate operations in Penampang, Papar, and here between January 6 and 13.

The judge also ordered for 10 of the men to be whipped once while others were spared due to their age and gender.

All of the foreigners were also to be referred to the Immigration Department for their biometrics data to be taken before they are deported back to their country.