'Taxi Sapu' Drivers Caught On The Job
By Liza Mohd

Bandar Seri Begawan - Two Indonesian men were arrested by Belait Immigration Enforcement personnel for allegedly operating a 'taxi sapu' or unlicenced taxi service with two different Brunei registered vehicles, recently.

Both drivers were arrested by Immigration officials at about 6.47pm while on their way transporting Indonesian workers to Pontianak, Indonesia. Investigation by the enforcement officials revealed the suspects were both on visitor's passes and frequently entered and exited the country through the Sungai Tujoh Control Post. Under the Immigration Law, those who are here on a visitor's pass cannot undertake any jobs, either paid or unpaid. Offenders could be charged under Regulation 9 (4) and would be punishable with not more than six months' imprisonment, or a fine of not more than B$2,000, or both.

The two men are suspected of carrying out illegal transportation services for Indonesian workers by charging a fee of $70 to $80 for a return trip from Brunei to Pontianak, which they collected themselves.

Both drivers were issued with special passes for further investigation and could face a compound fine of B$600 for breaching Regulation 9(4) of the Immigration Law. Meanwhile in a separate inspection, seven foreign workers from Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia were arrested for failing to produce any self-identification documents pertaining to their stay in the country.

However they were later freed after their respective employers produced their original passports and relevant documents to the relevant sections. Last week, three Indian nationals and two Indonesians were also issued special passes for further clarification on their documents during an ambush targeting construction sites in Sungai Liang and Kampong Lumut.

That operation, codenamed `Ops Berkas 115' was carried out by a team of seven Immigration officials led by the Senior Immigration Officer. Twenty-one foreign workers from Indonesia, India, Philippines and Thailand were inspected in the operation.

The Belait Immigration Enforcement Section meanwhile urged members of the public to make complaints of any suspected immigration violators by calling the hotline numbers 2383555 or 2383777 or at the Belait Law Enforcement section at 3331879/3341939. The caller or informer will be given anonymity.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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