55th Ops Basmi nets 5 Immigration Offender
By M K Anwar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Immigration Enforcement personnel conducted their 55th 'Ops Basmi' yesterday morning. The raid targeted the farming areas of Kg Bengkurong Masin.

Several workers' quarters were inspected throughout the farming area to flush out immigration offenders hiding amongst legal foreign workers.

Eighteen Immigration Enforcement personnel were led by Senior Immigration Officer Hamdani Hj Abd Hamid. Enforcement personnel were divided into three teams to effectively comb the area for suspected offenders.

Eight foreign workers were brought in by Immigration Officers for suspected immigration violations. After screening, five were confirmed to have committed offences under the Immigration and Passport Acts.

A wanted offender from Bangladesh, Sulaiman Khan Faijuddin Khan, who had been on the run several times, was finally caught. He has been on the Immigration Department's wanted list during previous raids.

Sulaiman could face charges under Section 15 (1) of the Immigration Act for overstaying in the country. Offenders can be jailed for not less than three months but not more than two years, with three strokes of the cane.

Four other workers from Indonesia were confirmed to have committed immigration offences.

All were found - working at the farm under visit passes. Foreigners using their social visit passes to work in the country can be charged under Chapter 9 (4) of the Immigration Act.

Employers are reminded that they can also be charged under Section 55 (1) (e) of the Immigration Act for providing employment to immigration offenders. If found guilty they can be jailed for not less than six months but not more than two years and fined not more than $6,000.

The employer can also be charged under Section 55 (1) (d) for harbouring an immigration offender.

This offence carries an imprisonment-sentence of not less than six months but not more than two years and a fine of not more than $6,000 under the Section 55 (1) (iii) regulation. Immigration officers also issued ten special passes to foreign workers yesterday. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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