Two convicted escapees sentenced to eight months’ jail

Back in cuffs: Riki (right) and Haji being led to the Magistrate’s Court in Kulai yesterday. — Bernama

KULAI: Two convicted Indonesians who escaped while being transported to Ledang prison recently were sentenced to eight months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court here.

Haji Samirudin, 36, and Riki Rinaldi, 40, pleaded guilty before magistrate Azureen Sahira Sauffee Afandi here yesterday.

Based on the charge sheet, the two men were detained for committing offences under Section 56 (1A) (a) of the Immigration Act but had deliberately escaped from the custody of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

The offence was committed along Jalan Felda Inas, heading towards Sengkang on April 11.

The two accused escaped while being transported to Ledang prison after being sentenced to six months’ jail by Kota Tinggi magistrate’s court for entering the country illegally.

Haji and Riki were charged under Section 224 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of not more than two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Azureen Sahira then sentenced the two of them to eight months in prison, starting from the date of their rearrest.

Deputy public prosecutor Edelynn Wong prosecuted the case while the two accused were not represented.

In a separate case, a lorry driver was charged at the Johor Baru Sessions Court with possessing 1,450 litres of subsidised diesel without a licence last year.

Moo Yit Lim, 32, pleaded guilty before Sessions Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim after the charge against him was read out in Mandarin.

Based on the charge sheet, the accused was found to have possessed the diesel stocks in two white-coloured plastic barrels inside a lorry on July 27, 2022.

The accused was charged under Section 21 of the Supply Control Act, which is punishable under Section 22 (1) of the same Act.

Che Wan Zaidi fined him RM30,000 in default four months’ imprisonment. The court also ordered the lorry and the diesel, worth RM3,480, to be forfeited.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry prosecution officers Muhamad Sabiq Muhamad Subri and Raja Nor Iklas Raja Ariff prosecuted the case while Moo was not represented.

He paid the fine.