Kota Kinabalu: A 51-year-old Indonesian woman has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for illegal entry and re-entry after deportation, marking a recent example of strict enforcement of immigration laws in Sabah, Malaysia.

Legal Proceedings and Sentence

Mariani Muda appeared before the Sessions Court in Kota Kinabalu and pleaded guilty to two charges: entering Sabah without a valid pass and re-entering the state after being deported on July 18, 2024. Sessions Court Judge Hurman Hussain imposed four months’ imprisonment for the first charge, citing Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. A further six months were added for the second charge, under Section 36 of the same act.

The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively, meaning Mariani will serve the full 10 months without any reduction. The offences were detected on January 8, 2025, at 10:50 a.m., when she was found at a restaurant in Likas Plaza.

Immigration Act Penalties

Under Section 6 of the Immigration Act, offenders face fines up to RM10,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both. In addition, they may be whipped. Section 36 of the same act allows for similar penalties and also includes the possibility of deportation.

According to the court, all convicted foreigners must be referred to the Immigration Department upon completing their sentences. The prosecution was handled by Immigration Department Prosecuting Officer Gressia Yolanda Ismail Uvaraj.

Broader Immigration Enforcement

In a related case, two Filipino nationals were also sentenced to four months’ jail each for entering Sabah without valid passes. Both pleaded guilty to the charges and were ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department after their sentences.

These cases underscore the government’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws, particularly in the wake of increased border control measures and stricter enforcement of entry requirements. The recent conviction of Mariani Muda and the Filipinos highlights the consequences of unauthorized entry and re-entry into Malaysia.

Officials have emphasized that unauthorized immigration not only threatens national security but also places a strain on local resources and services. The government has been working closely with neighboring countries to manage cross-border movements and ensure compliance with immigration regulations.

According to the Immigration Department, the number of illegal immigrants apprehended in Sabah has increased over the past two years, prompting calls for more stringent border controls and better enforcement of existing laws.

With these recent convictions, the government is likely to continue its crackdown on illegal immigration, possibly introducing new measures or policies to address the issue in the coming months. The Immigration Department has not yet commented on potential changes to current regulations, but officials have indicated that they are monitoring the situation closely.

Mariani Muda’s case serves as a warning to others who attempt to enter Malaysia without proper documentation. The legal consequences are clear, with both fines and imprisonment being potential outcomes for those found guilty of immigration violations.