PASIR MAS: The Magistrate's Court here imposed a fine of RM4,000 each on three locals after they pleaded guilty to entering Malaysia from Thailand through an illegal route this month.
The three individuals, boat passengers Lim Wu Han, 34, and married couple Rajmidi Sahli, 50, and Nursyuhada Abdullah, 29, entered a guilty plea after the charges were read before Magistrate Mohd Izdham Naim Che Ani on Tuesday (Jan 7).
They were accused of entering Malaysia at the Sungai Pengkalan Haram Jambu bank in Rantau Panjang using an unauthorised route at 1.30pm on Friday (Jan 3).
According to the facts of the case, General Operations Force personnel conducting surveillance in the Pengkalan Haram Jambu area in Rantau Panjang saw the three accused disembark from a boat heading in from Thailand.
Initial investigations found that all three were Malaysian citizens with valid identification cards.
They were charged under Section 5(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Syazalia Che Suhaimin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused were represented by Nabila Mohd Noordin from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Syazalia requested a penalty that would serve as both a fair punishment and a lesson for the accused to use authorised routes.
Nabila requested the minimum fine, explaining that Lim works as a shop assistant, Rajmidi is a site supervisor, and Nursyuhada is a housewife.
The court then fined them RM4,000 each in default one month's jail. – Bernama
