KUCHING: An Indonesian driver who had a valid entry pass to Malaysia was fined RM6,000 in default six months imprisonment by the Sessions Court here yesterday for allowing an illegal immigrant to remain in a vehicle he occupied.
Judge Shafiza Datuk Abdul Razak Tready imposed the fine on 41-year-old Adru Adam after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The court also ordered the accused to be referred to Immigration Department after either he pays the fine or serving the prison sentence.
The court was told that the offence took place at about 2.45 pm on Oct 12 along the Serian-Tebedu Road.
The accused had permitted an Indonesian national, identified as Rauf Arifal, 21, who did not possess valid travel documents, to enter and remain in a Toyota Hilux he was occupying.
Fact of the case revealed that a police team two vehicles and arrested their two drivers and two Indonesian passengers during an operation on the day of the incident.
Initial investigations were conducted following suspicions that those involved might have been linked to security-related offences under the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Act 2015 (SMATA), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), and immigration offences.
However, checks with the Sarawak Immigration Department confirmed that the accused had valid records of entering and leaving Malaysia.
The accused claimed that he had not knowingly committed the offence and was merely acting as a replacement driver on the day of the incident to leave Malaysia.
Nevertheless, investigations established that one of the passengers in the vehicle did not possess valid travel documents to remain in the country, resulting in the charge against him.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Abdurrahman Abrar Jami prosecuted while the accused were unrepresented.
