Ten foreign nationals were detained during three enforcement operations carried out under Operasi Panyap 2025 by the Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) in Brunei-Muara District.
The operations targeted rental properties, worker accommodations, and business premises to address violations under the Immigration Act and related regulations.
The first operation took place at a rental property in Mukim Berakas ‘B’, where one foreign national was detained for overstaying after their immigration pass expired, working with a different employer, and holding a position not authorised by their immigration pass.
The second operation covered locations in Mukim Kilanas and Mukim Pengkalan Batu. Nine individuals were inspected, leading to the detention of seven. Five were found to have overstayed their visas, with three of them using visit passes to work. Two others were detained for working with employers other than those listed in their permits and for abetting immigration violations.
In the third operation, at business premises in Mukim Gadong ‘B’, two individuals were detained for working with visit passes.
Separately, three individuals were sentenced for overstaying under the Immigration Act, Chapter 17.
Mutukumar Karuppiah and Muhammed Juwel Miah, both Bangladeshi nationals, received sentences of five and six months in prison, respectively, along with three strokes of the cane.
Suroso, an Indonesian national, was sentenced to six months in prison and fined BND1,000, which he failed to pay, leading to an additional month of imprisonment.
In another case, Md Rasel Sheikh, a Bangladeshi national, was sentenced to 19 months in prison and three strokes of the cane for theft and overstaying his visa.
The INRD has called on the public to assist in reporting immigration offenders by contacting its hotline at 8734888 / 8753888 (Bandar Seri Begawan) or 8984111 (Kuala Belait).
