KOTA KINABALU: Two men were given hefty fines by the Sessions court here yesterday for hiring illegal immigrants.
In the first case, Lim Khin Loong, 59, who appeared before judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, was fined RM40,000, in default, three months jail, after he pleaded guilty to employing four Indonesians, three men and a woman aged between 22 and 48 years old, at the L.K.L Brick Supply in Kampung Lumat, Beaufort at 1.20 pm on November 8.
The charge under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both, for each illegal immigrant harboured, upon conviction.
In the second case, Chia Poh Guan, 33, admitted before the judge to committing a similar offence and was fined RM30,000, in default, three months jail.
Chia, a shop owner, had employed three undocumented Filipinos, aged between 16 and 23 years old, at Guan Ann Enterprise at Jalan 1F, KKIP Selatan, Jalan Sepanggar at 11.45 am on June 6.
Chia was also fined RM5,000, in default, two months jail, for harbouring an illegal immigrant, a 42-year-old Filipina, at the same place and time.
The offence under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 carries a maximum fine of RM30,000 or jail term of up to a year, or both, for each illegal immigrant involved.
Prosecuting officer from the Immigration Department, Hamisah Puteh, prosecuted while both accused were not represented.