KELANTAN IMMIGRATION DETAINS 90 EMPLOYERS FOR HIRING, HARBOURING UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS

KOTA BHARU, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan Immigration Department has detained 90 employers for allegedly hiring or harbouring undocumented migrants for the first nine months of this year.

Its director, Mohamed Yusoff Khan Mohd Hassan, said the employers would be investigated under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act for providing protection to employees known to be violating the law.

He stated that all the employers or protectors detained were the result of 483 enforcement operations, which saw a total of 3,442 individuals being inspected.

"Of that total, 1,524 migrants were also detained for various offences. During that period, a total of 2,109 individuals, including foreign prisoners, were deported," he said when contacted today.

Mohamed Yusoff Khan said that if convicted, the employer could face a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000. In cases involving more than five migrants, the penalty may include imprisonment of six months to five years and up to six strokes of the cane.

He said employers could also be subject to action under Section 55E of the Immigration Act, which stipulates a fine of not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM30,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months for each worker on their premises.

“For the offence of employing migrants without a valid pass under Section 55B, the offender can be fined RM10,000 to RM50,000 or imprisoned not exceeding 12 months for each worker.

“Common offences by migrants include overstaying (Section 15(1)(c)), not possessing a valid pass or permit (Section 6(1)(c)), violating the pass conditions (Rule 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations) and involvement in migrant smuggling under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007,” he said.

According to him, 763 cases have been brought to prosecution, while the compound collection from enforcement actions until September this year reached RM1.2 million, excluding fines imposed by the court.

-- BERNAMA