BY Fadley Faisal

A Thai national, who overstayed in the country for 797 days, was sentenced to six months’ jail and three canings by the Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Immigration Prosecutor Mohd Zul Azri bin Haji Ranee informed Senior Magistrate Hajah Ervy Sufitriana binti Haji Abdul Rahman that Somphong Yinget, 41, was detained at the Immigration counter just before departure at the Brunei International Airport at 3.30pm on October 26.

The court further heard that the defendant was detained as the immigration officer on duty found an endorsement in the defendant’s passport dubious.

The defendant’s case was handed for investigations to the enforcement, who unearthed that the defendant last entered through the airport on April 19, 2018 under the sponsorship of a company as a labourer.

His employment pass was found to have been last extended on May 21, 2020, valid up until August 21, 2020.

However, the defendant’s employer cancelled the pass on August 11, 2020 prompting an order for the defendant to return home by August 19, 2020.

The defendant fled from his employer and went into hiding until his detention.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin