The High Court upheld the SCJ's discretionary power under section 407(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code to order forfeiture of funds linked to an illegal employment conviction, affirming no procedural errors necessitated intervention.

Introduction

[1] In a letter dated 6 May 2025, the Applicants, Salman Ahmad Chowdhury ("Salman") and Agensi Pekerjaan Insight Alliance Sdn Bhd ("the agent"), involving two different criminal case numbers before the Session Court (PATI), applied to this Court to exercise its revisionary power to revise the learned Session's Court Judge's (SCJ) decision dated 16 February 2025 particularly on an order made by the SCJ to forfeit the moneys amounting to RM723,000.00 which the prosecution tendered in the trial and the SCJ marked it as exhibit P36.

[2] Having perused the letter and the documents tendered as exhbits before the SCJ, the Court decided to hear the application in open Court. The Court then heard the revision application and dismissed it on the ground that there was no procedural error that warranted the Court to exercise its revisionary power.

[3] Dissatisfied with the Court's decision, counsel from Tetuan Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq filed the appeal on behalf of Salman on 28 May 2025.

[4] Hence, the decision of this Court.

Brief Facts Of The Case

[5] Based on the Applicant's letter dated 6 Mei 2025, the facts disclosed in the letter state that Salman was an illegal immigrant employed by the Agent, who was Salman's employer.

[6] Salman was charged in contravention of reg 39 of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for failing to comply with the employment pass by working at a place other than the one allowed in the pass, which is punishable under the Regulation.

[7] The charge preferred against Salman states as follows:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 17 January 2024 jam lebih kurang 1142hrs, di sebuah premis pejabat yang beralamat di 67-A, Jalan Mamanda 1, Taman Ampang Point, 68000 Ampang, di dalam daerah Hulu Langat di dalam negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan, sebagai seroang warganegara Bangladesh dan pemegang pasport Bangladesh bernombor EL0110001 telah dikeluarkan Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara (PLKS) pada 14 July 2023 yang berlaku sehingga 26 July 2024 sebagai Pekerja Pencucian di Rakan Ikhlas Services Sdn Bhd Seperti di cetakan pengesahan JIM. Walaubagaimanapun, kamu didapati tanpa sebab-sebab yang munasabah telah melanggar syarat-syarat pas tersebut kerana didapati bekerja di tempat kejadian. Dengan itu, kamu telah melakukan kesalahan di bawah Peraturan 39(b) Peraturan-Peraturan Imigresen 1963 yang mana sekiranya disabitkan boleh dihukum di bawah Peraturan yang sama.

Hukuman: Denda tidak melebihi RM1,000.00 atau penjara tidak lebih enam (6) bulan atau kedua-duanya."

[8] Salman pleaded guilty and the SCJ imposed a fine of RM400.00, in default two months' imprisonment. Salman paid the fine. Following the guilty plea, the SCJ further ordered that Salman be deported to his home country, and Exhibit P36 was forfeited to the Government in accordance with s 407(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code and the forfeiture order is final upon expiry of the period for appeal.

[9] At the time the Court heard the revision application, Salman had already been deported. Salman did not file any appeal against the SCJ's orders, specifically in respect of the order to forfeit exhibit P36. In light of that, the SCJ's decision was final.

[10] While the Agent was charged with an offence under s 55B of the Immigration Act 1959, the charge preferred against the Agent states as follows:

"Bahawa kamu, pada 17 January 2024 jam lebih kurang 1142hrs, di 67A-Jalan Mamanda 1, Taman Ampang Point, 68000 Ampang, dalam daerah Hulu Langat, dalam Negeri Selangor Darul Ehsan, sebagai majikan didapati telah mengambil kerja seramai satu