Five illegals jailed

KOTA KINABALU: Four men and a woman were jailed for four months by the Sessions Court here yesterday for entering the State without valid travel documents.

Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim imposed the sentence on Balleh Ansau, 48, Mukim Jarang, 41, Faizal Amir, 21, Roslan Abdul, 39, and Maylin Basarul, 18, after they pleaded guilty to separate charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, yesterday.

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

They were apprehended during separate operations in Sipitang, Tuaran and here between March 6 and 21.

In mitigation they informed the court that they worked in the State as contract workers, a waitress and selling food.

All of the accused prayed for a lenient sentence as well as to be deported back to their country as soon as possible.

The court also ordered for the men to be whipped once while Maylin was spared the whip due to her gender.

Meanwhile, the same court sentenced 39-year-old Jonel Alie Aruh to four months in jail for overstaying in the State.

Jonel received the sentence after pleading guilty before the judge to an offence framed under Section 15(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both upon conviction.

He was arrested in Inanam, here at 12.30pm on February 16 for having an expired passport since April 29, 2018.

The court ordered Jonel to serve the custodial sentence from the date of his arrest and all of the accused persons be referred to the Immigration Department for their biometrics data to be taken before being deported.