Kota Kinabalu: A 32-year-old Filipino was sentenced to a total of 114 months’ imprisonment for overstaying in the State for more than 11 years and possessing 17 forged Social Visit Pass stamps.
Asdi Taban Sangkalahan pleaded guilty to all charges before Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain.
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On the first charge, Asdi was jailed 12 months for remaining in the State after his Social Visit Pass expired on Aug 20, 2014, resulting in an overstay of 11 years and two months. He was arrested at a rented room along Jalan Gaya here.
The offence falls under Section 15(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 15(4) of the same Act, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
For the second to 18th charges, Asdi was jailed six months for each of the 17 counts of possessing forged Social Visit Pass stamps of various dates in his passport at the same time and place.
The court ordered all sentences to run concurrently.
The offences were uncovered during a series of operations known as OPS SAPU, when Asdi was detained at a second-floor rented room above Kedai Biskut Ming Ang along Jalan Gaya.
Meanwhile, another man, Abmanisim @ Kamil Siron, 59, was fined RM5,000 or jailed three months for allowing an illegal immigrant to stay on his premises.
Abmanisim had permitted the Filipino to enter two orchard houses in Kampung Binaong, Keningau, on Sept 26, 2024.
The prosecution was conducted by Immigration Department prosecuting officer Chin Tze Mei.
