Illegal trio jailed

KOTA KINABALU: Two men were jailed for four months and ordered to be given a stroke of the cane while a woman was jailed for five months for entering Sabah illegally.

Sessions Court judge Egusra Ali imposed the sentence on Kumar Mabansa, 21, Marham Abdul Hamid, 19, and Rosnah Rauf, 37, yesterday, after they pleaded guilty to separate charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both and whipping of not more than six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.

They were apprehended by the authority during separate operations here between December 7 and 12.

The court also ordered all of them to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentences for their biometrics data to be recorded before being deported to their country.

In a separate case, an Indonesian man, who was jailed for four months and a stroke of whipping on December 3 for similar offence of entering the State illegally, was allowed a stay of execution,

The judge made the decision on Baharuddin, 26, at the request of his counsel Amli Nohin, pending his appeal at the High Court here.

Amli informed the court that his client had a passport, still valid until January 6 next year, and tendered the document to the court.

He also obtained verification of the passport and Baharuddin’s working pass as a fisherman from the Immigration Department.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Lim Swee Beng raised no objection and he applied for Baharuddin’s employer to be the surety, if bail granted.

The court released Baharuddin on RM10,000 bail with his employer to be the surety and set January 8 next year for mention at the High Court here.