KOTA KINABALU: A Filipino who stayed in the state for about 31 years without any valid document, was yesterday jailed for five months by the Sessions Court.
Judge Azreen Aziz meted out the custodial sentence on Abd Rahim Hussin, 51, after the latter pleaded guilty to the offence.
The accused however was spared the whipping sentence as his age is above 50.
Abd Rahim was arrested outside the Karamunsing police station here about 3.10pm on October 18, this year after he failed to produce any valid document.
He was convicted under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years and is also liable to whipping of not more than six strokes upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Aida Jaafar Mad Ariff urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the accused as the latter had stayed in the state without any valid documents for 31 years.
The accused, who has eight children, asked for his sentence to be reduced.
The court ordered the accused to serve the jail term from his date of arrest and thereafter to be referred to the Immigration Department.