Bangladeshi Worker Fined RM6,000 For Possessing Five Other People’s Passports
KULIM: The Magistrate’s Court here today imposed a fine of RM6,000 on a Bangladeshi cleaning worker after he pleaded guilty to possessing five passports belonging to other individuals without lawful authority.
The accused, Md Rajib, 37, made the plea after the charge was read to him by an interpreter before Magistrate Nur Hamizah Mat Shah.
The court also ordered the accused to be imprisoned for 12 months if he fails to pay the fine.
According to the charge, Md Rajib, together with another individual who is still at large, was accused of possessing three Myanmar passports and two Bangladeshi passports.
The offence was allegedly committed on 27 June at a premises at Jalan Kota Kenari 3, Taman Kota Kenari here.
The accused was charged under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of five years or a maximum fine of RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, S Preeyaa, while the accused was represented by lawyer, Fieza Fazlin Fandi.
The lawyer, in his appeal, requested the court to impose a lighter sentence as his client needs to support his wife and three young children in Bangladesh.
He said the accused has been residing in the country for eight years and promised not to repeat the offence in the future.
The accused then paid the fine at the Sungai Petani Court Complex counter.
Meanwhile, in separate proceedings before the same court, another Bangladeshi national, Rahman Abdur, 53, who was charged with possessing a Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) suspected to be false or unlawfully altered, could not have his plea recorded.
This was because the accused informed the court that he did not understand the charge read to him by the interpreter.
The court then set 18 August as the next mention date for the case to obtain the services of an interpreter.
The court also ordered that no bail be granted to the accused.
According to the charge, Rahman was alleged to have committed the offence by the roadside of Taman Senangin, Kulim, at 2 p.m. on 8 July.
He was charged under Section 56(1)(aa) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000 or a maximum imprisonment of five years, upon conviction.
Harian Metro