KUCHING: The Sessions Court here on today (April 22) sentenced a 20-year-old Indonesian man to four months’ imprisonment and one stroke of the cane for entering Malaysia without valid travel documents.
Judge Iris Awen Jon meted out the sentence on Abdul Safari after he pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 6(3) of the same Act.
Under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, the offence carries a penalty of a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, and whipping of up to six strokes upon conviction.
The court ordered that the custodial sentence take effect from the date of his arrest on April 14.
Upon completion of his sentence, he is to be referred to the Malaysia Immigration Department for further action.
According to the facts of the case, on April 15 at about 6pm, a police team from the Gita Police Station conducted a raid at a premises along Jalan Matang here over suspected online gambling activities.
During the operation, the accused was apprehended and failed to produce any valid identification or travel documents.
Police investigations later confirmed that he had entered the country unlawfully.
In mitigation, Abdul Safari pleaded for leniency, stating that he is the sole breadwinner for his elderly parents in Indonesia.
He told the court that he had been working at a food outlet for a small salary, which he regularly sent back to support his family, and had not seen his parents for some time.
Deputy public prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.
