Pregnant Woman Abandoned By 'Husband' During Raid
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - An eight months pregnant Indonesian woman whose immigration papers have expired was abandoned by her "husband" to face the music alone during an immigration raid yesterday.

The 26-year-old Indonesian woman who had no documents on her was detained when the immigration officers raided a rented room in Kg Tasek Meradun. She was with her "husband" in the room but her "husband" fled through a backdoor, leaving his "wife" behind when the officers arrived.

It was suspected that the photocopied passport of the woman's "husband" contained an immigration pass that had expired and been altered.

The Indonesian woman was brought to the office for investigation. An examination of the Law Enforcement Section data showed that the Indonesian woman's passport expired on July 16, 2006. She claimed to have given her passport to a male "agent" whom she does not recognise.

The pregnant Indonesian woman was among four foreign nationals nabbed yesterday in a routine inspection by the Law Enforcement Section, Department of Immigration and National Registration to root out immigration offenders. The inspection which was carried out at 9.50am at two houses in Kg Tasek Meradun Bunot was led by a Senior Immigration Officer and involved 9 personnel.

Two special passes were issued and a summons letter was given to a local. The four foreign nationals who were apprehended comprised two Indonesians, a male and a female, and two Filipinos, also a male and a female. A 27-year-old Filipina who has overstayed in the country since November 5, 2006 was caught during an inspection of a room at a rented house in Kg Tasek Meradun. Two passports including the Filipina's were given to the enforcement officers by the landlord of the house. The landlord, a local, was issued with a summons letter to assist in the investigation, while the Filipina is being detained for investigation. The owner of the other passport was not around. The landlord was asked to report to the Law Enforcement Section Office.

A 28-year-old Indonesian man caught during an inspection of a room at a rented house in Kg Tasek Meradun at first tried to make excuses in an attempt to flee, however he failed to do so. He showed a photocopy of his passport which was believed to have been altered.

After further questioning, the Indonesian man showed his actual passport which expired on November 20, 2006. He is under detention for further questioning.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old Filipino, who had no documents on him but said he was in the country on a visit pass, was detained during an inspection at Kg Tasek Meradun. At that time, he was cleaning a sewing machine in a store of a house but he did not admit to working there.

He was brought to the Law Enforcement Office for investigation. Another Filipino, who was issued with a special pass to assist in the investigation, is believed to be the owner of the business. He could be charged with employing an immigration offender.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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