The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today doubled to six years the jail term on two men who had been convicted of smuggling in six Myanmar migrants across the border from Thailand June last year.

Malaysian Mohd Asli Nayan, 45, and Thai national Abdullah Bueto, 39, were initially sentenced to three years jail each by the Alor Setar High Court after they pleaded guilty to committing the offence.

However, the prosecution appealed to the Court of Appeal to increase the jail sentence.

A three-men bench chaired by Justice Mohtarudin Baki allowed the prosecution’s appeal saying that the offence committed by the two men was serious.

Mohtarudin said the jail sentence imposed on the duo by the High Court in January this year was manifestly inadequate.

Presiding with Mohtarudin were Justices Zakaria Sam and Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil.

Mohd Asli and Abdullah were charged with smuggling a woman and five men, aged between 21 and 35 years, at the lake area, Rakyat Laka Temin, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kubang Pasu district, Kedah at 2.15am on June 20 last year.

According to the facts of the case, a team of police on patrol in the area, saw a group of people walking and checks found six immigrants without valid travel documents.

Following investigation, it was found that Mohd Asli and Abdullah were trafficking in the six Myanmar migrants across the Malaysia-Thai border from Thailand.

The six migrants are Nyo Nyo (woman), Mg Mg Wim, Ayea Tul Hla, Soe Mnaing, Win Mg and Ung Mau were charged on July 16 last year for not having valid travel documents.

They pleaded guilty to the charge and were each sentenced to five months’ jail and a stroke of the cane.

Deputy public prosecutor Iswa Tonie appeared for the prosecution, while Mohd Asli was represented by lawyer Tengku Hezrul Anuar Tengku Abdul Samad and Abdullah by lawyer Rosman Azwan Osman.

- Bernama