Kota Kinabalu: Twenty-two people who entered Sabah illegally and overstayed after their travel documents expired were sentenced by the Sessions Court.
The Indonesians and Filipinos pleaded guilty separately before Judge Hurman Hussain to the charges against them.
Nineteen of them were jailed for four months each for entering the state without proper documents.
They were arrested at various locations in Sipitang and the city after failing to produce valid documents during immigration operations.
They committed the offence under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963, which provides for a jail term of up to five years, a fine of up to RM10,000 and whipping, on conviction.
Meanwhile, two others were jailed for 12 months each, and one was fined RM10,000, in default of 12 months’ jail, for staying in the state after their travel documents expired.
The trio were detained in Sipitang after presenting expired documents.
During mitigation, all 22 requested leniency and pleaded to be deported to their home countries as soon as possible.
The court ordered them to serve their sentences from the date of arrest. After serving their jail terms or paying fines, they will be referred to the Immigration Department for deportation.
Prosecuting Officer Norhayati Abdul Hari from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
