361 Indonesian runaways in 2006
Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Herijanto Soeprapto revealed a total of 361 cases of runaway workers were recorded last year. He said most workers ran away from their employers because of non- or late payment of salaries. Of the 361 cases, 228 cases have been resolved, whereas the remaining 133 cases are still pending. He said the Indonesian Embassy provided shelter to 324 Indonesian workers, of whom 305 had returned home after their issues were settled. The Embassy also set up a taskforce to monitor the process of solving the cases.
Indonesia is hoping to sign an MoU on migrant workers with Brunei; it has similar arrangement with Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Filipino with bullet-charm freed
The public prosecutor dropped a criminal case against a 33-year-old Filipina, Florida Norman who was nabbed for possessing a live bullet, her lucky charm. Brunei authorities arrested her at the Department Hall of Brunei International Airport on 21 August after a bullet was found in her wallet during a routine check. She has spent 10 days in remand at the Jerudong Prison. Deputy Public Prosecutor Dk Hjh Hana Molina said her case was dismissed on compassionate grounds that there was no evidence to suggest that she would pose a security threat to Brunei Darussalam.
The Belait Immigration Enforcement Section arrested an Indonesian and a Malaysian during the operation targeting home renovation and construction sites in the Tutong District. In the same operation, six Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese workers were issued special passes for further clarification of their employment passes. In a separate incident, an Indonesian woman was detained during a routine raid by the Law Enforcement Unit of the Department of Immigration and National Registration. The woman was brought to the Law Enforcement Section for failing to present a valid immigration pass. However, it was found that she had been earlier detained and is listed under Black List (A) with a case still under investigation.
Labor, immigration violators jailed
The Bandar Magistrate's Court sentenced a 45-year-old permanent resident, Boon Kim Kee, to a B$3,000 fine or in default three months in jail after he pleaded guilty to employing a 26-year-old immigration offender, Tofan Hadi Prawiro. Tofan is under the sponsorship of another company. The court also sentenced an Indonesian woman, 27, to a B$500 fine or in default one month in jail after she pleaded guilty to an immigration offense. She could not produce her passport to the immigration officer at the Kuala Lurah Immigration Control Post upon entry to the country.
Sources: Rol Ezam, "Filipina freed on bullet charge," Borneo Bulletin, 1 September 2007; Rol Ezam, "Immigration offender jailed for a month," Borneo Bulletin, 4 September 2007; Liza Mohd, "Illegal workers netted during Ops Bongkar 108," Borneo Bulletin, 4 September 2007; Azaraimy HH, "Blacklisted foreign woman detained," Borneo Bulletin, 5 September 2007; Rol Ezam, "$3,000 fine for employing immigration offender," Borneo Bulletin, 7 September 2007; Cristina Lee-Pisco, "Detained Pinay in Brunei released," journal.com.ph, 7 September 2007; "Case against Filipina in Brunei dropped," Manila Bulletin, 7 September 2007; Azlan Othman, "Almost daily case of runaway worker," Borneo Bulletin, 8 September 2007; Azlan Othman, "MoU on Indonesian workforce," Borneo Bulletin, 9 September 2007; Rosli Abidin Yahya, "'Nod' for formation of workers' associations," Borneo Bulletin, 9 September 2007