| Azlan Othman |
SEVEN foreign workers including two women were arrested by immigration officers for abusing their immigration passes.
Late Monday night, 16 immigration enforcement officers conducted raids at three separate living quarters in the Mukim Berakas area.
In one of the raids at a rented house, the enforcement officers found a female foreigner hiding in the kitchen. Further investigation revealed that the Brunei immigration stamps in her passport had expired 198 days earlier.
A foreign man inside the room was also detained. If convicted, legal action will be taken for protecting an immigration offender.
In a separate room, the officers also apprehended a foreign woman found to have had her Brunei immigration stamp expired for 644 days.
Four others were arrested in the raid and were freed after further investigation revealed their immigration passes were still valid.
The department advised employees and visitors to ensure that their stay is not contradictory to the passes given to them.
Details collected from alleged immigration offenders
Foreigner with an immigration pass believed to be expired
An alleged immigration offender with her partner. – PHOTOS: DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION & NATIONAL REGISTRATION
It is an offence on the part of the employers to recruit foreign nationals who are not under their guarantee or hire visit pass holders. If convicted, the employer could face a fine of not less than $3,000 for each offence.
The department reminds employers and foreign workers to adhere to the rules and regulations, warning it would continue to conduct random checks.
The department welcomes public tip-off on immigration violations and can be reached at hotline 8734888 or 8753888.
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