A 73-year-old catering company director was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court today after pleading guilty to using a forged tenancy agreement to obtain foreign worker quotas under the Foreign Worker Recalibration Programme 2.0 (RTK 2.0).
Judge Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad imposed the fine on Chua Keng Hiang. In default of payment, he faces six months’ imprisonment.
Chua was charged with dishonestly using a tenancy agreement dated July 1, 2021, between Goh Leong Han, 65, and PSSB Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, knowing or having reason to believe that the document was forged.
The offence was committed at the Foreign Workers Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia at the Home Ministry Complex in Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, off Jalan Duta, on July 5, 2023.
The charge was brought under Section 471 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 465 of the same code, which provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noorhani Muhmmed Ayub urged the court to impose a heavy sentence, arguing that the offence involved national security concerns relating to the entry of foreign nationals into Malaysia.
“A heavy sentence would serve as a warning to the public not to commit similar offences,” she said.
However, defence counsel Michelle Tan sought a lighter fine, citing Chua’s age and multiple medical conditions, including early-stage dementia, prostate cancer and heart disease.
Tan told the court that her client apologised for the offence, regretted his actions and promised not to repeat them.
According to the case facts, the forged tenancy agreement for a premises owned by Goh in Jalan Imbi was submitted to the Immigration Department as supporting documentation for a foreign worker quota application.
Believing the document to be genuine, the department approved a quota for six undocumented foreign workers in the services sector for PSSB Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd.
However, subsequent checks revealed that the agreement was forged. Investigations found that Goh, the premises’ owner, denied signing the document or entering into any tenancy agreement with Chua’s company.
