KLUANG: A 64-year-old farmer, Yean Fock Choi today pleaded guilty at the magistrate's court to a charge of trespassing on land owned by the Sultan of Johor.
Another farmer, Gan Tong Chon, 62, however claimed trial to a similar charge of tresspassing and another charge of hiring Indonesian workers without valid permits.
Yean will be sentenced tomorrow at the same court, while Gan's case was fixed for mention on Sept 11 pending an appointment of a counsel.
Yean and Gan were charged separately for trespassing on land in Mukim Kahang, which belonged to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Aug 16, between 11.45am and 2.53pm.
The offence is under Section 447 of the Penal Code for trespassing that carries a maximum six months' jail term or RM3,000 fine, or both.
Gan faced a separate charge of employing two Indonesian men, Najamudin, 55, and Masri, 34, who did not have valid social visit passes and work permits under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Any person found guilty of employing one or more illegal immigrants is liable to a maximum fine of RM50,000, or jail for maximum 12 months, or both, for each illegal employee who was employed.
Both Najamudin and Masri were charged separately with not having a valid work permit and social pass under Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for failing to provide any valid travel documents.
The charges were read before Kluang Magistrate Court Registrar Nor Aziela Sidek.
Deputy public prosecutor Natalie Chew prosecuted, while Yean, Najamudin and Masri were unrepresented.
Bail was fixed at RM3,000 for Yean, while Gan was imposed with a total RM11,000 bail for the two charges.