Undocumented migrant fails escape bid in large-scale Immigration raid in KK

Some of the women detained being escorted out from a nightclub by immigration personnel.

KOTA KINABALU: An undocumented migrant climbed out from the top floor of a nightclub and used air conditioner outdoor units as his flight of stairs to escape an Immigration Department raid at a popular entertainment hub here.

The 27-year-old Filipino however failed in his bid to slip out undetected after one of the units he stepped on, which was fortunately near to the ground, broke off, causing him to fall.

Immigration personnel on guard outside the nightclub who had already spotted him earlier subsequently apprehended the paperless migrant during the raid at The Waterfront here on Wednesday night (June 15).

Sabah Immigration Department director Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the man was among 11 people detained for not having any valid personal documents in the 11.30pm operation dubbed Ops Gegar.

Sitti said a total of 137 people were earlier screened in the exercise at two nightclubs led by State Immigration Department assistant deputy director M Azmi Ab Murad.

She said the 11 people detained, aged between 22 and 36, comprised four Filipinos, six Filipinas and an Indonesian.

"When our officers stormed the premises, some patrons were still partying away," she said, in a statement here on Friday (June 17).

The detainees will be investigated for violating the Immigration Act 1959/63, she added.

Sitti said the department will intensify such operations at nightspots statewide in order to detect undocumented migrants particularly those suspected of being involved in vice activities.

"The Immigration Department remains committed in our efforts to eradicate as well as prevent the presence of undocumented migrants in Sabah," she said.

She also warned the public, especially employers to always follow the law and Immigration rules pertaining to the hiring of foreigners as workers.

"We will not compromise on those found to have violated the law and will not hesitate to take action on them," she said.

Sitti also urged the public to immediately report the presence of undocumented migrants to the authorities.