Between January and June this year, a total of 132 immigration offenders of various nationalities have been charged in court under the Immigration and Passport Acts, compared to only 98 last year. During the same period, some 545 people were meted compound fines for minor immigration violations leading to a total collection of B$193,000. This is higher than the B$138,000 in compound fines collected from 362 immigration violators during the same period last year. However, there is a decrease in the number of deportations from 736 foreigners last year to only 284 this year.
Officers from the Immigration and Municipal Department raided the Pasar Ikan dan Sayur Dermaga in the capital on 19 June and detained eight foreign workers, including six Indonesians and two Malaysians, for failing to produce valid documents. In another set of raids conducted on various lodgings, a rented house and a project site in Berakas on 28 June, police and immigration law enforcement officers arrested 15 other immigration offenders, including six Bangladeshis, five Indonesians, and four Indians. They were arrested for possession of expired immigration passes.
Five Indonesian nationals were meted various jail terms ranging from four to eight months by the Bandar Magistrate’s Court on 29 June for having no valid documents. Except for one, who was fined B$800 in addition to a four-month jail term, the rest were sentenced to receive three strokes of the cane each. The foreigners held either employment or social visit passes, all of which were expired.
Sources: MK Anwar, “Increase in immigration offenders," Borneo Bulletin, 16 June 2006; James Kon, “Employers found violating laws," Borneo Bulletin, 20 June 2006; Azaraimy HH and Hj Minor Absah, “15 foreigners held for expired passes," Borneo Bulletin, 30 June 2006; Malai Fadley Rizal, “Jail, caning for overstaying foreigners." Borneo Bulletin, 30 June 2006