Five Employers Fined Over RM110,000 for Hiring Illegal Foreign Workers

(Butterworth, October 10) – Five employers accused of hiring foreign workers without valid permits were prosecuted by the Penang Immigration Department. All defendants pleaded guilty, resulting in a total of RM110,500 in fines imposed by the court.

According to an official statement on the Penang Immigration Department's Facebook page, these employers were all charged in the Butterworth Court. Here are the details of the fines:

1. A food stall operator at the Terengganu Road hawker center on Penang Island was fined RM10,500; in default of payment, a 4-month jail sentence would apply.

2. An economy rice shop owner in Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, was fined RM31,500; in default, a 4-month jail sentence would apply.

3. A Tom Yum restaurant owner in Bayan Baru on Penang Island was fined RM42,000; in default, a 5-month jail sentence would apply.

4. A grocery store operator in Simpang Ampat, Seberang Perai Selatan, was fined RM21,000; in default, a 2-month jail sentence would apply.

5. Another food stall operator at the Terengganu Road hawker center was fined RM5,500; in default, a 3-month jail sentence would apply.

The post noted that the first four employers were charged under Section 55B(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (hiring illegal foreign workers), while the fifth employer was charged under Section 55E of the same Act (allowing illegal foreign workers on premises).

After the charges were read in court by an interpreter, each employer pled guilty, and fines were issued by the judge, which were subsequently paid.