TANAH MERAH: Two Malaysian men were charged at the Tanah Merah Special Court for Illegal Immigrants today for allowing 13 undocumented migrants to stay at their premises in Kubang Kerian nine months ago.
Mohd Fauzan Husin, 34, and Abdullah Mohd Zain, 40, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court judge Nik Habri Muhamad.
They were accused of allowing 12 men and one woman, all Myanmar nationals without valid permits, to stay at a premises in Wakaf Stan near Kubang Kerian.
The offence was uncovered during an Immigration Department raid at the premises at 8.23pm on Feb 5.
They were charged under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 55E(2) of the same Act.
The offence carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, for each undocumented migrant found on the premises.
Deputy public prosecutor Abu Arsalna Zainal Abidin prosecuted the case, while the accused were represented by lawyer Suresh Subramaniam.
Suresh pleaded for leniency, saying this was their first offence and that both men had no prior criminal record.
Abu Arsalna, however, urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to serve as a lesson to others.
The court found both accused guilty and, ordering each to be bound by a good behaviour bond of RM5,000 for two years under Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
