KUALA LUMPUR: A catering company director was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here for using a fake tenancy agreement to apply for foreign worker quota under the Immigration Department's Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0 (RTK 2.0).
Sessions Court Judge Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad meted out the sentence against PSSB Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd director Chua Keng Hiang, 75, after he pleaded guilty here on Thursday (Oct 29).
The court also ordered Chua to serve six months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
According to the charge sheet, Chua knowingly used a fake tenancy agreement dated July 1, 2021, between PSSB Holdings and the owner of the premises, Goh Leong Han, 65.
The offence was committed at the Foreign Labour Division of the Immigration Department, Jalan Sri Hartamas, Off Jalan Duta, here on July 5, 2023.
Chua was charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code for dishonestly using a false document, which carries a maximum of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, if convicted.
According to the statement of facts, the fake tenancy agreement was used for a unit belonging to Goh at Jalan Padang Walter Grenier, Off Jalan Imbi, near here, which was used as a supporting document in the foreign labourer quota submitted to the Immigration Department.
The Immigration Department believed the document was authentic and approved a quota of six foreign workers in the service sector for PSSB Holdings before further checks revealed it was forged.
Investigations showed that Goh, who owns the unit, had never signed the tenancy agreement with the accused.
Deputy public prosecutor Noorhani Muhmmed Ayub asked the court to pass an appropriate sentence, considering that the case involved homeland security issues with incoming foreign workers into Malaysia.
"The prosecution asks the court to pass a heavy sentence as a deterrent to society," she said.
Lawyer Michelle Tan, who represented Chua, however, sought a lenient sentence, saying that Chua was a senior citizen who suffers from various illnesses, including early-onset dementia, prostate cancer and heart disease.
"My client has apologised for his mistake, and he is remorseful. He promises not to repeat it," Tan said.
