BY FADLEY FAISAL
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, NOV 24 – A 30-year-old Bangladeshi man, Eman Hossain, was sentenced to five months in prison and three lashes for overstaying after his immigration pass was cancelled.
The prosecution was conducted by the prosecuting officer of the National Immigration and Registration Department (JIPK), Adi Yusra bin Haji Adanan before Magistrate Hajah Normazdina binti Haji Mohd Maskub.
The sentence was handed down as part of a wider enforcement effort by JIPK, in collaboration with other enforcement agencies.
The integrated operation, dubbed Operation Kabat Bersepadu 130/2024, was carried out in several rental houses in Mukim Sengkurong.
During the operation, the authorities checked 57 individuals, which led to several legal actions.
Among them, 11 foreign nationals were detained by the Immigration Enforcement Division for failing to produce valid documents. Meanwhile, the Royal Customs and Excise Department issued a seizure notice on seven foreign nationals for possessing contraband cigarettes under the Excise Order 2006.
The Department of Labor also carried out inspections on 18 companies and found a number of wrongdoings under the Employment Order 2009, including failing to provide written contracts, failing to pay overtime wages and failing to provide rest breaks.
Other offenses include working overtime, not granting leave on public holidays, and failing to provide clean and comfortable living quarters for workers.
In addition, employers also violate the placement of foreign workers in tasks or locations not specified in their permits, violate conditions under the Foreign Worker Employment License, and fail to provide insurance coverage for workers.
Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, no violations were found by the Royal Brunei Police Force or other agencies involved during the operation.
