Overstaying accounted for 1,342 of 2,092 court cases against foreigners detained by KL Immigration in 2024, with Indonesians topping arrests.
KUALA LUMPUR: Overstaying was the most common offence leading to court cases against foreigners detained in the capital last year.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department (JIM) director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said 2,092 prosecutions were recorded against detained foreigners in 2024.
Of these, 1,342 cases involved overstaying offences under Section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
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Other frequent offences facing court action included having no travel documents, with 663 cases, and harbouring illegal immigrants, with 34 cases.
Additional offences were violating pass conditions, holding another person’s travel documents, and illegal return.
During the same period, Kuala Lumpur JIM detained 4,428 illegal immigrants through 701 enforcement operations.
The highest number of arrests involved Indonesians, totalling 1,288 individuals.
They were followed by Bangladeshis (944), Myanmar nationals (878), Pakistanis (431) and Indian nationals (164).
Other nationalities arrested included those from the Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, China, Vietnam, and stateless individuals.
Wan Mohammed Saupee said Kuala Lumpur JIM would continue enforcement and monitoring operations to control the illegal immigrant issue.
He added the department would not compromise with any foreigners violating the country’s laws.
Locals found protecting illegal immigrants will also face strict legal action, including being charged in court. – Bernama
