KUCHING: An Indonesian man was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the High Court here yesterday (Jan 20) for illegally bringing two migrants into Malaysia last year.
Zaini Akbar, 59, pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 before Judicial Commissioner Zaleha Mohd Yusuf Pan.
According to the charge, Zaini transported a 33-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man into Malaysia using a Toyota Camry sedan.
The offence occurred at about 9.20 am on June 11, 2025, in front of a shop in Tebedu.
The migrants were intercepted during a routine “Ops Serkap” operation by enforcement officers.
Both admitted they had been brought into the country by Zaini, while Immigration Department checks confirmed they had no legal record of entry at the Tebedu checkpoint.
Investigations found that Zaini had deliberately smuggled the two migrants into the country.
He faced a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM250,000, or both.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kong Siew Chuo. Zaini was unrepresented in court.
