Three employers fined RM35,000 for housing undocumented migrants

A court in Kuala Terengganu has imposed a total fine of RM35,000 on three employers for illegally housing undocumented foreign workers. The employers pleaded guilty to allowing a total of seven individuals without legal status to reside in premises under their control.

Judge Nazlyza Mohamad Nazri fined Veeriah Al Muthiah, 72, RM20,000 or four months in jail for allowing four undocumented migrants, two from Indonesia and two from Bangladesh, to live at a workers' quarters in Ladang Sri Alam Sdn. Bhd. on July 1. Amirul Azrin Zakaria, 32, was fined RM10,000 or two months in jail for permitting two Myanmar nationals to stay at a rice and oil mill in Taman Seri Budi on July 6.

Muhammad Hashim Kaw, 45, received a RM5,000 fine or one month in jail for allowing one Myanmar national to reside at his motorcycle workshop on Jalan Besar Kampung Batu 5 on July 8. All three employers were found to have had the authority and control over their respective premises.

The charges were brought under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, with penalties under Section 55E(2) stipulating fines ranging from RM5,000 to RM30,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both, for each undocumented migrant found. The arrests were made during separate operations conducted by the Terengganu Immigration Enforcement Division in early July.