By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, July 9: A driver pleaded guilty today for transporting five illegal immigrants to Kuching after they entered Sarawak through a “jalan tikus” (illegal border crossing) in Biawak.
Erry Eafandy Thamrin, who was charged at the Sessions Court here today, was found bringing five Indonesians in a purple Proton Waja at Kampung Pasir Tengah, Lundu, on June 13, 2020, at about 12.40 am by Sarawak Brigade Intelligence Unit through OPS Benteng COVID.
He was charged under Section 26 of The Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), which carries an imprisonment term not exceeding five years and fine not exceeding RM250,000 or both, upon conviction.
Sessions Court Judge Mohd Taufik Mohd Yusoff ordered the case to be transferred to Kuching High Court for sentencing.
Investigations found the five Indonesians possessed passports but without a valid stamps.
The accused rented the said car at a cost of RM100 per day to bring Indonesians who entered Sarawak via “jalan tikus” in Biawak, where he charged each passenger RM600 for each trip to Kuching.
Upon investigation, it was found that these Indonesians entered Sarawak illegally by foot and were instructed to wait at a place in Kampung Biawak for the accused to pick them up and transport them with his rented car. —DayakDaily
