More than 150 detained for immigration offences around Lahad Datu, Semporna
LAHAD DATU: The Immigration Department detained 149 foreign nationals for various offences and two locals, believed to be their employers, in raids around Lahad Datu and Semporna from last Tuesday until 4:30 a.m. today.
Sabah Immigration Director Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yusoff said all the foreign nationals, aged between one and 79 years old, were detained after her team inspected around 200 individuals in raids conducted at several illegal settlements and quarry worker accommodations during the operation.
“All of them were detained for various offences, including under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
The two locals, believed to be employers who harbored the illegal immigrants, will be investigated under Section 56(1)(d),” she said at a press conference today.
Meanwhile, during Ops Mahir in Semporna, Sh Sitti Saleha said that her team detained seven Chinese nationals and four Thai nationals, aged between 18 and 55, at a construction site on Pulau Gelam Gelam.
She said they are believed to have committed offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39b of the Immigration Regulations 1969.
She added that the Chinese nationals detained are suspected of misusing their social visit passes to work at the construction site on the island.
The Immigration Department is currently working to track down the employers and the premises owners involved for investigation under Section 55E and Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, she said.
All the detainees are now being held at the Tawau Immigration Depot for further investigation.