| Azlan Othman |
FOUR foreign workers were detained in a raid conducted by Immigration enforcement officers at rented houses around Mukim Sengkurong on Sunday night. They were later brought to the central police station.
Led by the Senior Immigration Officer, with 16 personnel, the operation started at 10.30pm and ended an hour later. The operation is being conducted to ensure that foreign nationals residing in Brunei Darussalam are holding work or visit passes issued by the Immigration Act and Regulations Chapter 17.
Two foreign workers failed to show valid identification. A check of their passport stamps showed that they had been overstaying in the country for 734 days and 419 days respectively, and both will face charges if found guilty.
Meanwhile, the Immigration and National Registration Department is advising employees and visitors to ensure that their presence in the country does not contradict with the passes that were issued to them.
ABOVE & BELOW: Enforcement officers from the Immigration and National Registration Department conducting interrogations during the raid. – PHOTOS: IMMIGRATION AND NATIONAL REGISTRA-TION DEPARTMENT
It is also the duty of employers, and also the guarantor of the foreign workers’ passes, to ensure that employees or visitors under their sponsorship do not violate regulations such as working with other employers, or working while holding a visit pass.
In connection with this, the department is also reminding the public not to employ foreign nationals with immigration offences, or staying in the country on a visit pass.
Employers found in violation of the rules will face a fine of not less than $3,000, while the foreign workers will be expelled from the country following a prison term, and forbidden to re-enter Brunei Darussalam.
Additionally, the department is calling on the public to report any immigration offences by contacting the Immigration and National Registration Department hotline, at 8734888 and 8753888. All information and the name of the informant will be kept strictly confidential.
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