KOTA KINABALU: The Immigration Court here yesterday fined a company a total of RM288,000, in default, 216 months’ jail for allowing 36 illegal immigrants to remain in its shopping mall.
Deputy registrar of the High Court imposed the fine on 1Borneo Management Corporation Sdn Bhd, which was represented by its manager, for the charge framed 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 manager admitted that the company had allowed the Filipinos and Indonesians aged between 18 and 50, to be in the premises at the ground floor of 1Borneo Hypermall off Jalan Sulaman on May 2.
The company received a RM8,000 fine, in default, six months’ jail for each immigrant.
Immigration Department prosecuting officer Shaiful Izuat Abd Shani told the court that the illegal immigrants were arrested during an operation at the premises.
The company was defended by counsels Chin Teck Ming and Lau Cheung Hoon.
This case was first brought to court on July 21 this year.
It was learnt that the company had paid the fine.