KUCHING: The High Court here sentenced two Indonesian men to two years in prison for transporting migrants from their country into Malaysia through Kampung Biawak, Lundu.
Narwadi Mansur and Heri Mansur each pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The law provides for imprisonment of up to five years or RM250,000 in fine or both.
Judge Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab ordered both men to serve their sentences effective from the date of their arrest on April 18, 2023.
The foreigners transported eight migrants into the country on a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) through a road outside the Biawak Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex parameter fence at around 5.45am.
According to the case facts, a team of immigration enforcement officers conducted ‘Ops Serkap’ and stopped a Toyota Veloz MPV for inspection at the scene.
It led to the discovery of eight migrants named Norhali, 26, Musliha, 33, Hobir, 28, Abdussalam, 26, Suriadi, 20, Mohamad Harris, 25, Masrudi, 33, and Yusuf, 28, who were being transported by Nawardi and Heri into Malaysia.
Only two of the migrants had past records of entering the country while the others had no travel records.
Eight of them has been charged under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and sentenced accordingly.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kong Siew Chuo while, the men were represented by counsel Steven Beti and Gerald Empaling Donald.
