ALOR STAR: The High Court here today set Nov 22 to pass down sentencing on two Bangladesh nationals after they pleaded guilty today to an amended charge of transporting seven illegal immigrants in Langkawi in May 2015.
Judge Datuk Hashim Hamzah fixed the date after both accused, Tufail, 20, and Firuz Ahmad, 29, pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment or fine or both upon conviction.
The duo is jointly accused of committing the offense near Pantai Pasir Berdengung, Jalan Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi at about 10.55pm on May 10, 2015.
Both men, who did not have any valid travel documents during the arrest, are accused of transporting seven illegal immigrants – five from Bangladesh and two from Myanmar – in a fishing vessel.
Lawyer Jamil Mohamed Shafie represented the duo.
The court also fixed Nov 27 for the hearing of a case involving a local seafood wholesaler Ooi Chee Teong who changed his plea from guilty to not guilty at today’s proceeding.
Ooi, 62, is charged with allowing Tufail and Firuz to use his vessel to transport the illegal immigrants.
He is charged under Section 26J of the same Act which carries up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of not more than RM250,000 or both upon conviction.
Ooi, who had pleaded guilty when he was slapped with the charge on June 25 last year, is alleged to have committed the offense at the same time and place.
However, his lawyer Ai Cha Ran Din Chee Ron told the court today that his client has decided to change his plea to not guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshuhada Mohd Yatim prosecuted both cases.