Kota Kinabalu: A Filipina who went viral as “Rose” on social media during the Ops Gegar carried out by the Immigration Department at the Hongkod Koisaan area recently, was among several Philippine nationals sentenced for various immigration offences.
Rose Edroso Busico together with his fellow countryman were brought to court before Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain, to face the charges against them.
She was fined RM500, in default three months’ jail, after pleading guilty to breaching the conditions of her Temporary Employment Visit Pass.
The charge stated that Rose was supposed to work as a domestic helper for an employer but was instead found working as a cleaner at a food and beverage outlet in Hongkod Koisaan, Penampang.
Rose committed the offence at 11.15pm on Apr 8 this year at Borneo Beer Garden & Food, Penampang.
The offence was charged under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, which carries a fine of up to RM1,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both upon conviction.
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Meanwhile, another accused, Reign Liwagon Atillo, was jailed 12 months for overstaying in the State.
When detained at the same time and location as Rose, a man was found to have a Temporary Employment Visit Pass that had expired on March 11, 2023, and that he had overstayed in the state for three years and 28 days.
The charge was framed under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.
In a related case, eight other illegal immigrants, all women, were each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for entering the state without valid identity documents.
The eight were arrested together with Rose at the same place and time after they failed to produce valid identity documents to immigration personnel during the operation carried out in the area.
The offence, under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, as well as whipping of not less than six strokes upon conviction.
The court heard that all the Filipino nationals were detained during Ops Gegar conducted by enforcement officers from the Immigration Department at the premises.
All the Filipinos were ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department for further action after paying their fines or serving their jail sentences.
For those who were sentenced to jail, they were ordered to serve their sentences from the date of their arrests.
Prosecuting Officer Baxter Junior Goh from the Immigration Department appeared for the prosecution.
