KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-six foreigners were jailed and fined by the Sessions Court after they pleaded guilty to committing immigration offences.
Judge Azreena Aziz sentenced 25 men and three women to between four and five months’ jail for entering the state illegally.
The court also ordered 14 men to be each whipped once.
The accused were separately charged under Section 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 which provides for a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, and not more than six strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
Six men and a woman were each convicted under Section 15 (1) (c) of the same Act for overstaying and were jailed for between four and five months.
The provision carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction.
Meanwhile a 31-year-old Filipino was sentenced to eight months’ jail for having a fake endorsement on his passport.
All the accused, aged between 18 and 40, were arrested by police and immigration personnel in Kudat, Kota Belud, Menggatal, Inanam, Keningau and Tenom between August 1 and 8, this year.
They were also ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department upon serving their sentences for further action
Prosecuting officer Sharlyn Marcus from the Immigration Department prosecuted.