KOTA KINABALU: Two 46-year-old locals were fined for allowing illegal immigrants to stay at their premises.
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James Pang Kai Loon was fined RM15,000 in default six months jail for permitting three Filipinos, aged between 18 and 30, to remain in James Home Reno at Kg Kibabaig, Jalan Datuk Panglima Banting, Penampang on January 23, 2021.
Salina Hatimin was fined RM5,000 in default two months jail for allowing a 30-year-old Filipino to stay at Restaurant Salim in KK Taipan, Inanam on August 18, 2020.
Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz meted out the fines after the duo pleaded guilty to committing an offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
It carries a jail term of up to a year, or a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.
During mitigation, both unrepresented accused who are the owners of the premises asked for a lenient fine saying that their businesses were greatly affected since the execution of the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the prosecuting officer from the Immigration Department urged the court to impose an adequate sentence as such cases are rampant nowadays.
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In an unrelated case at the Magistrate’s Court, a man was charged with possessing 1.62 grams of cannabis.
Huzaidie Husin, 34, who appeared before Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, was accused of having the cannabis at a hotel room here at 2.05pm on June 7.
No plea was recorded from Huzaidie who faced a charge under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
It carries a fine of up to RM20,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
Huzaidie was released on RM2,300 bail with two local sureties, pending the disposal of his case.
The magistrate fixed August 2 for re-mention of the case.-NST