14 illegals jailed

KOTA KINABALU: Thirteen men were each jailed for four months while a woman was sent to jail for five months for entering Sabah illegally.

Sessions Court judge Egusra Ali imposed the sentence on the accused persons aged between 25 and 40 after they pleaded guilty to separate charges, yesterday.

Basil Jr Basil, Sadil Mubi, Azmil Suhaimi, Munir Salleh, Muamar Jambali, Sabri Musa, Shimal Shamil, Hamid Husan, Alman Abdul, Sukadri Mohd Jabir, Amal Alonso, Najib Abd Gapal, Azman Amman and Nurfaisa Usman admitted to each of their charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

The indictment provides for a fine of up to RM10, 000 or a jail term of up to five years or whipping, upon conviction.

They were apprehended for not having valid documents to stay in the State, during separate operations in Papar and here between December 11 and 17.

All of the men were also ordered to be whipped once while Nurfaisa was spared due to her gender.

In applying for a lenient sentence, they informed the court that they had worked as carpenters, labourers, shop assistants, and gardeners.

The court also ordered the foreigners to serve the jail sentence from the date of their arrests and thereafter to be referred to the Immigration Department for their biometrics data to be recorded before being reported.