‘Brunei loving' offender overstays welcome
By Malai Fadley Rizal 

The Magistrate's Court did a 32-year-old Thai national who 'loved staying in Brunei' a favour, by granting him a further five-month stay. Senior Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri sentenced Nattawut Pansawang to jail after he had pleaded guilty to staying in the Sultanate illegally for a total of 1,339 days.

"I just love staying in Brunei," said the immigration offender, answering a question posed by the Senior Magistrate on his purpose of staying in Brunei.

Nattawut also informed the court that he had been hopping from one house to another throughout his stay in Brunei.

The court heard that Nattawut arrived here on September 6, 1999. He was granted a social visit pass valid until September 9, and later sought an extension until the 23rd.

The prosecution submitted that Nattawut was supposed to leave no later than the given date, however he did otherwise - choosing to remain here illegally.

He was apprehended yesterday by Immigrations Enforcement officers at a semi-detached house at Simpang 256, Kg Rimba, Gadong.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin