Aug 14 sentencing for cop over illegal at his home

KOTA KINABALU: A police officer who was charge with allowing an illegal immigrant to remain in his house will know his fate at the Sessions Court here on August 14.

Judge Azreena Aziz fixed the sentencing date for Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohd Nizam Yang, 42, after his counsel applied for time to prepare for mitigation.

He was found guilty yesterday of allowing the 27-year-old woman to stay at a house in Taman Ujana Kingfisher, Likas between April and November 2016.

The offence under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 carries a maximum fine of RM30,000 or jail term of up to a year, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.

Mohd Nizam was initially charged with trafficking the woman for the purpose of exploitation of forced labour, an offence under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007.

The indictment carries a jail term of up to 15 years and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

However, the judge held that the prosecution had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt on the charge under the ATIPSOM Act 2007, but found the accused had committed an offence under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution had called ten witnesses to testify against the accused while two defence witnesses were called during the defence stage.

Counsel Aida Jaafar Mad Ariff defended the accused.