KUCHING: Five Indonesians were jailed and ordered to be given a stroke of the rotan each by a Magistrates’ Court here yesterday for entering the state illegally.
The accused, aged between 16 and 32, were sentenced to between two months and three months’ imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the charge.
A presiding magistrate ordered their custodial sentence to take effect immediately. Each of them pleaded guilty to their respective charges under Section 6(1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 which carries a jail term of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or whipping of not more than six times.
They were picked up by Immigration Department officers from several places here and also in Serian during operations since January this year.
The court ordered all the accused to be referred to the Immigration Department after their release from prison.