In Kuching, Indonesian jailed two years for smuggling illegal migrants

KUCHING (July 16): An Indonesian man was today sentenced to two years in jail for engaging in the conveyance of two smuggled migrants last year.

High Court judge Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah convicted Hairi Muhammad on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

The Section provides for a jail term not exceeding five years, or a maximum fine of RM250,000, or both, upon conviction.

Based on the facts of the case, Immigration enforcement officers came across a vehicle that had stopped near a house in Kampung Biawak in Lundu and proceeded to carry out an inspection.

They found Hairi in the driver’s seat together with two of his countrymen in the vehicle.

Immigration records showed that the latter two – identified as Yudha Pangestul and Musofiyah – had last entered Sarawak on Feb 26, 2020.

It was informed that Yudha and Musofiyah had both pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful entry or presence in Malaysia under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and sentenced accordingly.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kong Siew Chuo prosecuted, while Hairi did not have legal representation.