BATU PAHAT: Two foreign nationals working at a karaoke bar were fined RM10,000 each after pleading guilty at the magistrate's court here, today, to charges of overstaying their tourist visas earlier this month.
Both accused, Phung Thi Ngoc Phung, 36, a Vietnamese national, and Xaibounmy Kham Ek, 29, a Laotian national, admitted to the offence under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) when the charges were read before Magistrate Nurasidah A Rahman.
Both were found to have expired visit passes in September 2023 and last April, respectively.
According to the charge, Phung Thi– a single mother– and Xaibounmy were accused of overstaying their visitor visas at a karaoke bar on Jalan Kundang 1, Taman Bukit Pasir, here, at 1.30am on Feb 8.
For this offence, they could be fined not less than RM10,000 or imprisoned for up to five years or both, if convicted.
In the same court, three other foreign nationals were each fined RM2,000 after pleading guilty to abusing work permits and not having valid travel documents upon entering the country.
They are Billal, 41, who was charged under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating the terms of his issued pass, while Ngwe Toe Aung, 28, and Truong Bao Tran, 32, were charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having valid travel documents.
Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 provides for a penalty of six months' imprisonment or a fine not exceeding RM1,000, while Section 6(1)(c) imposes a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both and whipping of not more than six strokes, if convicted.
All of them pleaded guilty and were fined between RM900 and RM2,000 and face imprisonment if they fail to pay.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Wahidah Mohd Sharip prosecuted while all the accused were represented by Tan Song Yan.
