Five foreign nationals believed to be involved in a migrant smuggling syndicate have been charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) recently.
The individuals comprise three Indonesian nationals and two Bangladesh nationals.
Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said for the case involving the three Indonesians, one was charged at the Seremban Sessions Court on May 21, while the other two were charged at the ATIP Special Sessions Court in Klang on May 15.
He said all the accused were among those detained following a Special Operation conducted by the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, and Rawang, Selangor on May 7.
Prosecution was brought under ATIPSOM, involving the accused’s roles as transporters and caretakers of transit houses believed to be part of a migrant smuggling network.
One accused, who acted as a transporter, was charged under Section 26J of the Act, which provides for a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM250,000, or both upon conviction.
Meanwhile, two others who allegedly acted as caretakers of transit houses were charged under Section 26H of the same Act for harbouring or protecting smuggled migrants.
If convicted, they face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The Seremban Sessions Court ordered the case to be transferred to the Seremban High Court.
No bail was granted, and the accused were ordered to remain in prison pending mention at the High Court.
For the two other accused at the ATIP Special Sessions Court in Klang, the court also ordered the case to be transferred to the Shah Alam High Court. They were likewise denied bail and remanded in prison pending further mention.
Separately, two Bangladeshi men known as the “Shafik Gang” were also charged at the ATIP Special Sessions Court in Klang on May 15.
They were among those arrested during a raid on a house in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which was believed to be used as a transit and shelter location for undocumented migrants on May 7.
Based on the case facts, both Bangladeshi suspects were believed to have acted as coordinators and caretakers of the transit house for the syndicate.
They were charged under Section 26H of ATIPSOM 2007, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, for harbouring nine smuggled migrants at a residential premises in Petaling Jaya.
The court also ordered the case to be transferred to the Shah Alam High Court, with no bail granted and both accused remanded pending the next mention.
Zakaria stressed that the Immigration Department will not compromise with any party involved in migrant smuggling activities.
He warned that individuals or syndicates involved in such crimes will face strict legal action as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to combating transborder crime that threatens national security, public order, and sovereignty.
