Five charged with transporting illegals
KOTA KINABALU: Five men, including two Filipinos, were separately charged at the High Court here yesterday with transporting illegal immigrants in Kota Marudu.
Mohamad Osman Madalin, 54, Abbas Mohamad, 58, Mohamad Sambulan, 56, Gazer Galit, 30, and Synadam Uhok Junidel, 38, who were brought before justice Ravinthran Paramaguru pleaded not guilty to each of their charges under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007.
Osman was arrested for allegedly engaging in the conveyance of four smuggled migrants using a Toyota Hilux by the roadside in Jalan Tanjung Batu in Kota Marudu at 8.30am on January 24.
On the same day, Abbas and Sambulan were apprehended for allegedly committing a similar offence, involving six and three smuggled migrants, using a van and Perodua Viva car respectively, by the roadside in Jalan Kampung Pias in Pitas, Kota Marudu at 9.20am.
The charges under Section 26J of the ATIPSOM Act 2007 carry a jail term of up to five years or a maximum fine of RM250,000, or both, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Gazer was alleged to have arranged a van and a Perodua Viva to bring in smuggled migrants in transit at a jetty in Kampung Rosob Laut, Pitas, Kota Marudu at 7am on the same day.
Gazer was charged under Section 26C of the ATIPSOM Act 2007, which carries a jail term of up to seven years and also liable to a fine or both, on conviction.
Synadam on the other hand, was charged with three charges, which he allegedly committed at the jetty at 7am on the same day.
In the first to the second charges, he was alleged to have transported five and four smuggled migrants, respectively, using a boat .
The offence was framed under Section 26J of the ATIPSOM Act 2007.
In the third count, he was charged under Section 26C of the ATIPSOM Act 2007 for allegedly arranging a boat to bring in smuggled migrants in transit.
An alternative charge was also read in the third charge for Synadam who had allegedly conveyed nine smuggled migrants, under Section 26J of the ATIPSOM Act 2007.
The court fixed March 24 this year for case management and all the accused were further remanded, pending disposal of their cases.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Khairuddin Idris ptodrcuted while counsel Aida Jaafar Mad Ariff and P.J. Perira represented Osman and Abbas respectively.