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Ahmadul Kobir, Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian court has fined 127 undocumented migrants, including 68 Bangladeshis, for various immigration offences including illegal entry, overstaying and misuse of immigration passes.
The migrants were detained during an immigration enforcement operation at a PR1MA housing project site in Sering, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on August 10.
All 127 accused pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them, according to court proceedings.
Of the total, 11 migrants were charged under Section 6(1)(c) of Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering the country without valid permission.
Another 16 were charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying beyond the period permitted under their immigration passes.
The remaining 100 were charged under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for misusing their immigration passes or permits.
The accused comprised 68 Bangladeshis, 19 Indonesians, six Myanmar nationals, four Pakistanis and three Nepalese.
Sessions Court Judge Zulkpli Abdullah subsequently imposed fines ranging from RM1,000 to RM10,000 on each of the accused, depending on the offence.
Those unable to pay the fines will face imprisonment ranging from one day to three months, according to the court.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Khaidijah Khairuddin conducted the prosecution. None of the accused was represented by a lawyer during the proceedings.
The 127 migrants were detained by the Kelantan Immigration Department during an enforcement operation at the PR1MA housing project in Sering on August 10.
The case highlights Malaysia’s continued enforcement against undocumented migration and violations of immigration conditions, particularly at construction and development sites where foreign workers are employed.
Malaysian authorities have repeatedly warned foreign nationals to comply with immigration requirements and urged employers to ensure that workers possess valid documents and permits.