SEREMBAN: A construction company was fined RM112,000 by the Sessions Court here for allowing 16 undocumented workers to enter and live at a proposed construction site in Port Dickson.
Judge Surita Budin made the ruling after China State Construction Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, represented by 34-year-old How Eng Hwa, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court fined the company RM7,000 for each of the 16 undocumented workers.
Surita also ordered the company representative to be jailed for six months in the event it was unable to pay the fine.
According to the charge, China State Construction Engineering, which had the authority over the construction site, had allowed the undocumented workers to enter and live there.
The offence was committed at 12.30pm on Feb 6 at phases one, two and three of the proposed construction site at Lot 8323, Jimah in Port Dickson.
The company was charged under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and punishable under Section 55E(2) of the same legislation.
Offenders can be fined between RM5,000 and RM30,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both for each offence upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer Suhaida Ad Wahab then asked the court to impose a punishment commensurating the offences.
The company, represented by lawyer Jason Cheong Kah Lok, appealed for a minimum fine for each undocumented worker as this was its first offence.
The company paid all the fines imposed by the court.
