Mad
KOTA KINABALU: A local man from Semporna will stand trial in the Sessions Court here on March 20–21 next year for allegedly harbouring three illegal immigrants in a car driven by him.
Mad Sidek Hamjah @ Pisto, 32, who appreared before judge Azreena Aziz yesterday, was charged under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963. The indictment carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months or both for each illegal immigrant, upon conviction.
The accused was alleged to have harboured three Filipinos, namely, Agul Basarah, 28, Abbam Arakam, 43 and Abdun Nahar Abdan, 26, in a car which he was the alleged driver, along Jalan Lintas near Taman Hilltop in Luyang at 4 am on November 21.
Mad Sidek, who was defended by counsel Sugumar Balakrishnan, was released on a bail of RM10,000 with RM5,000 deposited and two local sureties, pending disposal of his case.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Effizah Ernie Idris objected to bail on the grounds that the accused is involved in a serious case. She submitted that this case is related to the case of the three Filipinos who were charged under Firearms Act.
In reply, Sugumar argued that his client is a local man, adding that the charge framed against Mad Sidek did not relate to the case of the three Filipinos.
In a separate case, local Jaylan Muhammad Kassim, 23, will be tried on March 13–14 next year after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of raping a girl aged 18 at a house in a village in Papar on March 26, 2011.
He was charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail of 20 years and whipping, upon conviction. The accused was denied bail.