Immigration officer, businesswoman in Kuching discharged, acquitted of falsifying passports

KUCHING (Sept 23): The High Court here today discharged and acquitted an Immigration officer and a businesswoman accused of falsifying Malaysian International Passports seven years ago.

Judge Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli made the decision after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facile case against Mohamad Roslan Marjo, 52 and Tan Chew Yeang, 48, at the end of the prosecution’s case.

The court ruled that prosecution had failed to prove the element of common intention between Mohamad Roslan and Tan, as they did not know each other.

There was also no evidence of a pre-arranged plan between Mohamad Roslan and Tan for the persons named in the charges to obtain the passports.

Mohamad Roslan faced 12 charges, while Tan had two charges, all framed under Section 26E of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670). This Section provides for a jail term between seven and 15 years or a fine not exceeding RM500,000, or both.

Mohamad Roslan was accused of falsifying 12 Malaysian International Passports at the Immigration office in UTC Sarawak here between Aug 22, 2017 and Nov 19, 2017.

Tan was accused of falsifying two Malaysian International Passports, also at the same venue, on Oct 2, 2017.

The trial saw 14 witnesses called to testify for the prosecution.

Mohamad Roslan was represented by counsel Shankar Ram Asnani, while Tan was represented by lawyers Roger Chin and Lim Heng Choo.

The cases were prosecuted by deputy public prosecutors Kong Siew Chuo and Nur Suriati Mohd.