25 Foreigners Held In Immigration Raids
By M K Anwar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Immigration Enforcement personnel conducted their 69`" series of Ops Basmi raids early yesterday morning. A total of 25 foreigners were detained during the operation which yielded six immigration offenders.

The raids were carried out by a team of about 24 enforcement officers led by the Senior Chief Immigration Officer.

The areas targetted were mostly rented houses in Mukim. Kilanas, Mukim Berakas A & B, Mukim Kota Bata and Tungku.

One of the offenders, Md Gani Miah from Bangladesh was a repeat offender who had been jailed previously for three months in 2000. Two other immigration offenders from India and Indonesia, who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol during a raid in Kg Sg Akar, were found to have overstayed in the country after their respective work passes had expired. An Indonesian male was also found in Kg Kilanas with a visitor's pass that expired in January this year.

Meanwhile in Jln Kota Batu, the raiding party detained a Filipino man after he was found to possess an expired work pass. Another Indian national was found in Kg Sg Akar with a working pass that had expired since 2003.

All them will be charged under Chapter 15 (1) of the Immigration Act. Besides Immigration offenders, the enforcement officers also took in three religious offenders found to have committed 'khalwat'.

The four included a local Bruneian male who was caught in close proximity with an Indonesian female in a room in Kg Kilanas.

During the inspection, the local man reportedly threatened members of the raiding party after being found together with his partner inside a room.

He was given a summons letter requiring him to report back to the authorities. His case was also transferred to the Religious Department for further action.

Meanwhile the other khalwat suspect, the Filipino woman who was found hiding inside the closet during the Pulaie raid, will have her case' transferred to the Religious authorities. She is also ordered to report back to the Immigration Department.

The Senior Chief Immigration Officer in a statement would like to advise the owners of rented houses to ensure that they are renting it to those with the appropriate immigration documents.

At the same time, the Immigration Enforcement Section thanked members of the public for their cooperation in informing them on the activities of immigration offenders, especially those who misuse their passes. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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