KOTA KINABALU: Another three Chinese tourists were held at the Tawau airport for not having their passports stamped upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).
Last month, four tourists from China were jailed 18 days in Tawau for the same offence.
State Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said she was informed of the latest incident by Sabah Immigration Director Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin.
"The Sabah Immigration Department is in the process of investigating the case.
"The status of the three Chinese tourists will be decided after the completion of investigations by the Immigration authorities in Tawau.
"Its director has assured me that the trio will be released if they are found to have not committed any offence," she said in a statement.
Liew, who is also state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, said that she had also communicated with the Consul-General of China in Kota Kinabalu Liang Caide.
The trio had arrived in Kota Kinabalu on New Year and flew to Tawau the same day.
They were scheduled to return to Hong Kong today.