Indonesian jailed two years for smuggling migrants

KUCHING: The High Court here sentenced an Indonesian man to two years in prison for transporting two undocumented migrants into the state last year.

Hairi Muhammad pleaded guilty before Judge Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah to a charge under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007.

The charge carries imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to RM250,000 or both upon conviction.

He was charged with transporting a man and a woman near an unnumbered house around 5.05 am in Kampung Biawak, Lundu, on
Apr 18, 2023.

According to the case facts, an immigration enforcement team encountered a white pick-up truck near the house in Kampung Biawak.

The officers intercepted the vehicle and found that Hairi was transporting the migrants.

Checks on the entry and exit records revealed an old entry record of the two migrants dated Feb 26, 2020.

Investigations confirmed that Hairi was the driver who transported his two compatriots into Sarawak.

Deputy public prosecutor Kong Siew Chuo prosecuted the case, while Hairi was unrepresented by counsel.