TAWAU: Two undocumented Filipino fishermen, who are close friends, were each jailed eight months by the Sessions Court, here, on Friday for smuggling petrol.
Al Haber Atara, 32, and Baid Alpah, 19, were handed the sentence by Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya after pleading guilty to having 2,050 litres of petrol, a controlled item, without a licence on board a speedboat in suspicious circumstances at Tanjung Manimpa waters, Semporna, at 3.45am on Nov 4.
They were charged under Section 22(1) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which carries a fine of up to RM1 million or a jail term of up to three years, or both, on conviction.
The court heard from the prosecution that the duo were arrested by the Marine Police Force’s Ungerin Intelligence Unit, Sabah Region 4, following an intelligence operation, and later handed over to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Semporna Branch for further action.
KPDN Semporna Prosecuting Officer Samat Mapiare @ Muparia prosecuted, while both Al Haber and Baid were unrepresented.
The court ordered the duo to serve the jail term from the date of their arrest.
The court also ordered them be referred to the Immigration Department for further action upon completion of their sentence.
