Illegal Peddler 'Faints' Under Questioning
By Lyna Mohammad

Bandar Seri Begawan - An Indian national who was rounded up in an Immigration raid pretended to faint while being asked to go on board the raiding party's boat, prompting the enforcement personnel to rush him to the hospital.

A medical expert however later found no signs' of sickness on the man. While the 32-year-old man was supposedly resting in the emergency day ward, the law enforcers carried out further inspection on him and found an expired special pass that had been issued to him.

He was issued the pass pending purchase of his return flight ticket to his homeland, but he had failed to report back after the pass expired December 2, 2004. The man was caught selling local delicacies on a bicycle that had been modified to carry food, at a bridge in Kg Bolkiah `B' yesterday morning.

The operation codenamed ' Ops Basmi 66' began early yesterday morning and was carried out by an Immigration Enforcement raiding team of 14 headed by Senior Immigration Officer Hamdani Hj Abd Hamid. Conducted just two days after Ops Basmi 65, the operation this time targetted areas in Brunei waters.

In all, four foreigners were rounded up during the raid that targetted the waters of Pulau Cermin, Putat Control Post and nearby water villages. Out of the four, two were caught in violation of the immigration Act, including the Indian man.

Meanwhile an Indonesian man who was under a working permit as a gardener was also caught selling vegetables at one of the houses in Kg Pandai Besi `B'.

If found guilty, the 37-year-old man is liable to be prosecuted under Section 15(2) of the Immigration Act.

The Senior Chief Immigration Officer meanwhile urged members of the public not to accept any foreigners who intend to conduct business activities such as selling local delicacies whereby the hygiene of the product is in doubt.

The SCIO said that the advice was based on the several findings. The fact that foreigners caught, in the act happened to be those with expired immigration passes meant that they did not go for medical checkups and blood tests required once every two years and once a year respectively, he added.

He also extended his appreciation on behalf of the Immigration Department to co-operative members of the public in helping them to track down and apprehend the Immigration offenders.

In the hope that such co-operation would be continued, the Department welcomed those wishing to provide any information regarding illegal immigration activities, stating that they may do so by calling their hotline 2383555/ 2383777.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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