The High Court here today sentenced an immigration officer to eight years in jail and a RM150,000 fine for preparing a fraudulent Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) pass in 2022.
Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid ruled that Shamsudin Ishak, 51, failed to raise a reasonable doubt, while the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In default of non-payment of the fine, Shamsudin will serve an additional year in prison.
The court, however, granted a stay of execution pending his appeal and allowed him bail of RM30,000 with one surety.
Defence counsel Harpal Singh earlier urged the court to impose a lighter sentence, saying Shamsudin, who had served with the immigration department for 27 years, had no prior criminal record.
Harpal also said his client was still recovering from a severe hand infection that required multiple injuries and would be on medical leave until Oct 8.
“The infection is serious and he has a hospital appointment for further treatment,” he told the court.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Haslinda Che Seman argued for a heavier sentence, saying Shamsudin had abused his position of trust and tarnished the immigration department’s image.
Shamsudin was charged in 2023 with preparing the fraudulent MM2H pass to facilitate human trafficking involving Li XingQiang, a citizen of Vanuatu, at the department’s MM2H office in Putrajaya in June 2022.
He was charged under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act, which carries a jail term of five to 15 years, a fine of between RM15,000 and RM500,000, or both.
