KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here yesterday jailed 45 persons between four and five months for entering Sabah without valid travel documents.
Judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentences on all of the accused after they pleaded guilty to each of their charges under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The indictment carries a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, and also liable to whipping on conviction.
All the accused, aged between17 and 50, were apprehended during separate operations in Beaufort, Kota Belud, Papar and here for entering the state without valid documents.
The court also ordered some of the men to be whipped once while others were spared due to their age and
gender and all the accused to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentences.
Meanwhile, another two men from Indonesia and the Philippines were jailed for five months by the same court for overstaying in the State.
Both men, aged 32 and 36, admitted before the judge to each of their charges under Section 15 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which provides for a maximum fine of RM10,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
They were arrested in Papar for having expired passports and overstaying in the State. The court ordered them to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentence.