Immigration Officers Nab 19 Foreigners In Ops Berakas 97
By Za'imZaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Nineteen foreign nationals were netted last Wednesday for failure to produce valid documents in the latest series of operations conducted by the Law Enforcement Section, Department of Immigration and National Registration.

The operation codenamed, Ops Berkas 97, began at 8.30pm and ended at 2am. .

The targeted locations of the operation included a building under construction in Gadong, rented houses at Kg TanjongBunut, Kg Kilanas, Kg Sungai Kianggeh and workers' quarters at Kg Tanah Jambu.

The operation was led by the Acting Director of Immigration, Department of Immigration and National Registration and involved some 50 personnel comprising the Acting Deputy Director, Assistant. Director, Administration Officer, Senior Chief Immigration Officer, Chief National Registration and other Immigration officers.

Nuryanti Pandi, an Indonesian national who holds a visit pass, was found to be overstaying in the country since March 2.

She was caught hiding in a room during an inspection at a rented house in Kg Tanjong Bunut with an Indonesian man. She has been detained temporarily at the Bandar Seri Begawan Police Station.

Meanwhile, her partner, the Indonesian man, has been issued with a special pass to assist in the investigation. Ramamoorthy Panchatcharan, an Indian national, who was supposed to leave the country on Dec 10, 2005, was caught during an inspection at a rented room at Kg Sungai Kianggeh.

Shahul Hameed Sulaiman and Mohammaed Rafik Abdul Razak, both of Indian nationalities, were also caught for violating their visit pass.

Both attempted to flee from a window at a rented room at Perpindahan Burung Pinggai Berakas but were caught by enforcement officers. Susai Arul Raj, an Indian national, was also caught for violating his visit pass which expired on April 30, 2005.

Upon investigation, he was found to have been on the run from his employer.

Meanwhile, Pandiyan Rajakannu, whose work pass has expired since Aug 17, 2006, was caught at Sg. Kianggeh. He was told to pay a compound fine of $200.

An Indonesian national, Winarsih, was caught for violating his work pass which expired three days ago. He was asked to pay a compound fine of $100.

The Acting Director of Immigration said the aim of including immigration officers from the other departments were to expose them to the duties of the enforcement officers.

He also congratulated the law enforcement section's achievement in upholding the Immigration and Passport Law and Act.

The law enforcement section reminded the public that there are still employers who fail to provide their workers with temporary identity cards and valid photocopied passports.

Meanwhile, there are also rooms or houses that are still being rented out to immigration offenders. Information from the public in relation to immigration offences are most welcome to ensure peace and socio-cultural and religious harmony of the nation.

Anyone with information relating to any immigration offences can contact the Law Enforcement Section's hotline at 2383555 or 2383777 and 3331879 or 3341938 for the Kuala Belait office. Informer's identity will be kept confidential.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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