Steady decline in immigration cases
By M K Anwar

The number of immigration offenders nabbed during routine operations is on the decline, according to the Immigration Department.

Immigration authorities revealed to the Sunday Bulletin that the department had collected fines totalling only $285,600 during the entire year of 2003.

They reported a steady decline in over-stayers as well as a steady decline in immigration offences leading to court cases during the past 12 months.

"Routine inspections conducted by the immigration officers had resulted in this steady decline in offenders," immigration sources said.

Inspections had however totalled more than 500, and 103 operations were carried out in 2003. Yet, the Immigration Enforcement Unit operation codenamed 'Ops Banteras' during 2003 netted only 736 offenders.

Besides the operations and raids, the department had also conducted operations with other government enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, to make sure that foreign workers abide by immigration laws, the Immigration Enforcement Unit in 2003 conducted more than 1080 operations and inspections across the country.

From January 1st 2003 to December 23rd 2003, the department had fined 736 offenders. Among foreign nationals, the highest number of offenders recorded were Indonesians, of whom 240 had been brought to book, followed by 194 Filipinos and thirdly 113 Indians.

Among other foreign nationals involved in immigration offences were Bangladeshis, Thais, Malaysians and Singaporeans.

522 out of the 736 that were given compound fines were found guilty under Chapter 15(1) of the Immigration Act for overstaying unlawfully in the country after their entry visas have expired. This resulted in more than $170,000 in fines just for this offence alone.

68 cases of overstaying foreign nationals were prosecuted in court last year compared to 81 in 2002 and 96 such cases in 2001.

Cases involving illegal immigrants under the Immigration Act 6 (1) (c) brought to court also declined last year to only 31 cases compared to 46 in 2002 and 76 in 2001.

2003 recorded a slight increase in the number of offenders compounded. In 2002 there were only 652 offenders slapped with compound fines, while in 2001 there were 852 offenders.

The total compound fines in 2002 came to more than $340,000, whereas in 2001 the amount was $400,000.

199 people were brought to court and prosecuted in 2003 for various immigration offences.

Compare this with 2002, when 250 immigration cases were taken to court and 2001 when 294 cases were heard in court.

In 2003, a total of 778 foreign workers were deported to their home countries.

These deportations resulted from 453 immigration cases. Others cases involved customs, police, labour, narcotics as well as religious cases.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin