KUCHING: A farmer from Lundu, who pleaded guilty to smuggling five illegal immigrants, was sentenced to two years’ jail today.
High Court Judge Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab meted out the sentence on Julianus Mikhael after he pleaded guilty under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
The court also ordered the sentence to be carried out starting from the date of arrest, March 2.
The 39-year-old accused admitted smuggling five illegal immigrants known as Tino, Riki Samsuri, Soesanto, Hendra and Mario using a Perodua Myvi with registration number QCE 7903.
He was found committing the offence at 8pm in Kampung Kendaie near Lundu on March 2.
In his appeal, the accused stated that he was the main breadwinner of his family and had two young children as well as diabetes. He was supporting his father and some younger siblings who were still in school.
The accused applied to the court to impose a jail sentence running from the date of his arrest and requested that the personal items confiscated from him be returned to his wife.
Deputy public prosecutor, Ruthra Raj, however, asked the court to impose a heavier sentence as the offence he committed was very serious and moreover, it was committed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
