TAWAU: Three people were sentenced to jail and fined for lending their identity cards (MyKad) to illegal immigrants.
The accused, Abdul Habil Mobin, 58, and Fatimah Hasan, 50, were each sentenced to two months in jail and a RM2,500 fine after pleading guilty to the charges read separately before Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu.
According to the charges, both accused were charged under Regulation 25(1)(n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (amendment 2007) for failing to comply with Regulation 6 by failing to carry their identity card with them at all times.
The offense was committed at the National Registration Office (NRD) UTC Tawau branch, around 4 pm, on March 24.
For the offense, the accused faced a jail term not exceeding three years or a maximum fine of RM20,000, or both if convicted.
The prosecution was handled by NRD Sabah prosecuting officer Mohamad Faizal Tahir, who requested a fair sentence for both accused, taking into account factors of national security and sovereignty.
He said that the government spent a lot of money to enhance the security features of identity cards, but the accused’s actions in providing their identity to illegal immigrants are a betrayal and a serious offense.
Both accused, who were not represented by lawyers, each pleaded for a light sentence, with the exemption of the jail term, taking into account their age and health, as well as having repented and promise not to repeat the offense.
However, the court also ordered both of them to serve an additional two months in jail if they fail to pay the respective fines.
Meanwhile, in a separate proceeding, the court also sentenced a woman to 12 weeks in jail after she pleaded guilty to the same charge before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus.
The accused, Durinah Suaib, 36, was also charged under Regulation 25(1)(n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 (amendment 2007) on the same date and time.
When delivering the sentence, Dzul Elmy stated that lending identity cards to others, especially to illegal immigrants, is a serious issue.
“MyKad is yours, and you have no right to lend it to others, especially to illegal immigrants, to work here and enjoy the benefits that you should receive as a citizen.
“This case has also received widespread media coverage, and the court has taken into account all the facts before imposing the sentence as a lesson and message to the public,” he said.
Earlier, the accused, who was represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), Jhesseny P. Kang, pleaded for a light sentence, as her client only worked as a tailor and was unaware of the implications of her actions.
Previously, the media reported that the National Registration Department, in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), had cracked down on a syndicate smuggling illegal Filipino immigrants via air travel from Sabah to the Peninsula through Operation Lancar. – New Straits Times