Three Vietnamese women fined for violating visit pass

KOTA KINABALU: Three Vietnamese women were each fined RM800, in default, two months in jail by the Sessions Court here for violating their social visit pass.

Judge Azreena Aziz imposed the fine on Tran Thanh Thuy, 29, Dang Cam Hong, 27, and Le Thi Thanh Tuyen, 21, after they admitted to separate charges under Rule 39 (b) Immigration Regulations 1963. The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM1,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.

They breached the condition of their social visit pass by soliciting for the purpose of prostitution and were apprehended at a reflexology premises in Kampung Air, Jalan Merdeka here at 10.20pm on February 16.

All of them were also ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department for their biometrics data to be recorded before being deported and their passport returned to them.

Meanwhile, eight foreigners were jailed between four and five months for entering the state illegally.

The judge handed down the sentence on Azwan Abdul Raji, Mulpi Jalani, Abdul Kadir Abdul Salim, Juni Parod, Al Gasir Adnan, Asdi Aspi, Najib Rano and Rano Piting after they pleaded guilty to their charge 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, upon conviction.

Asdi received four months' jail while the rest were handed five months in jail and all of them to be whipped once except for Rano due to his age.

The foreigners, aged between 19 and 54, were arrested between February 20 and 22 in Tuaran and Kota Belud after they failed to produce valid documents when requested by the authorities.

In mitigation, the foreigners prayed for leniency and informed the court that they had worked in the state as contract workers and labourers.

The court also ordered them to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentence.