KUCHING: A 40-year-old Indonesian man was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the High Court here today for smuggling three Indonesian migrants into Malaysia.
Judge Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah handed down the sentence against Arpan Borda, after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
Under the law, the offence carries a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
According to the amended charge, Arpan, while driving a Proton Gen 2, smuggled three Indonesian nationals along the Pan Borneo Highway in Lundu at about 3:00 pm on March 11 this year.
The migrants were identified as Martinus Muda Kondo, 40, Danial Dita Mali, 26, and Veronika Dada Lede, 24.
Based on the facts of the case, a police team led by an officer conducting ‘Ops Taring Awas’ stopped and inspected the vehicle along the Pan Borneo road in Lundu at about 3:00 pm on March 11.
Checks revealed that Arpan was driving the vehicle and transporting the three Indonesian nationals.
All four individuals were subsequently arrested and brought to the Lundu District Police Headquarters for further investigation.
Investigations found that the three migrants had been picked up in Biawak and transported by the accused. They admitted that the arrangement had been made by Arpan.
Further checks established that the migrants did not possess valid documents or passes to enter Malaysia.
The investigation concluded that Arpan had provided transportation to facilitate the unlawful entry of the three migrants into the country, leading to the charge against him.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Ayuna Yussoff. Arpan was unrepresented.
