KUCHING: A 21-year-old Indonesian man has been fined a total of RM20,000 by the Sessions Court and Magistrates’ Court here today after pleading guilty to overstaying in Sarawak and engaging in online gambling activities.
In the Sessions Court, Judge Musli Ab Hamid imposed a fine of RM10,000 on the accused, identified as Pusidi, for remaining in Malaysia after the expiry of his social visit pass. In default, he faces eight months’ imprisonment.
He was charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 15(4) of the same Act, which provides for a fine of not less than RM10,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
He was also ordered by the court to be referred to the Department of Immigration Malaysia upon serving his sentence.
The court heard that the accused had entered Sarawak through the Biawak border on Feb 5, 2025, and his social visit pass expired on Mar 7, 2025.
However, he remained in the state for 412 days beyond the permitted period until his arrest on Apr 23.
In a separate proceeding before the Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Ling Hui Chuan fined him another RM10,000, in default three months and one day’s imprisonment, for dealing with a gaming machine.
He was charged under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a penalty of a fine ranging from RM10,000 to RM100,000 for each gaming machine and imprisonment of up to five years.
According to the facts of the case, the accused was arrested during an Ops Dadu raid conducted by a police team from the Batu Kawa Police Station at about 1.30pm on April 23 at a premises in Malihah Square, Jalan Matang.
Police observed the location for about 15 minutes before identifying themselves and conducting an inspection on the accused, who was seated at a table outside the premises.
A mobile phone was seized and found to contain elements of suspected online gambling.
Further checks by investigators confirmed that the device was used to manage and operate online gambling activities.
Other items seized included a piece of paper containing login details and RM45 in cash.
During mitigation, the unrepresented accused said he worked in the food and beverage sector, was married and his wife is pregnant. He also told the court that his employer was able to assist in paying the minimum fine, adding that this was his first offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid and Ahmad Fauzulutfi Suriani prosecuted the cases.
