KUANTAN: A premises caretaker and 11 Myanmar immigrants were sentenced for immigration offences at the Kemayan Sessions Court in Bera on Thursday.
The Pahang Immigration Department, on its official Facebook page, said the caretaker was fined RM20,000 after pleading guilty to allowing illegals on his premises. He was charged under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The 11 Myanmar immigrants were sentenced to between five and seven months' jail for entering the country without a valid passport or permit, and for overstaying. The charges were framed under Sections 15(1)(c) and 6(1)(c) of the same act.
"All the accused were arrested during an enforcement operation in July.
"We urge the public not to hire foreigners who do not possess a valid pass or permit, or to allow illegals on their premises.
"Strict action will be taken against illegal immigrants, as well as any party that provides protection to them," it said.
In a separate statement, the department said it arrested 36 illegal immigrants suspected of entering and working in the country, during raids on several premises in Kuantan, Raub and Lipis last Monday.
The illegals, aged between 22 and 51, comprised 12 Bangladeshis, 11 Indonesians, eight Myanmar nationals, three Thais, one Vietnamese and one Indian national.
"During the raids, 89 people were checked, 36 of whom were arrested for offences under the Immigration Act.
"All the detainees have been remanded for 14 days at the Kemayan Immigration Depot for investigation," the department said, adding that it was tracking the owners of the premises.