George town: A South Korean man, Jeon Eunjin, has been sentenced to three months in jail by the Magistrate's Court after admitting to overstaying his permitted time in Malaysia. Jeon, 55, entered the guilty plea when the charge was read in English before Magistrate Nadratun Naim Mohd Saidi, with the sentence commencing from his arrest on June 30.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jeon, a construction worker from South Korea, remained in Malaysia without a valid reason after his 90-day social visit pass expired on February 10. He was found to have committed the offence at the Criminal Investigation Division office of the Timur Laut district police headquarters on June 30.

Jeon was charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which is punishable under Section 15(4) of the same Act. This provision allows for a fine of not less than RM10,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

During the proceedings, National Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Nur Adilla Zaharuddin appealed for a minimal fine, highlighting Jeon's family obligations as he is married with two children, and noting he had saved the court time and costs by pleading guilty. However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Danial Amir Saari advocated for a sentence fitting the nature of the offence.

In a related charge, Jeon was fined RM2,000 or faced an additional six months' jail term if the fine is not paid, after pleading guilty to lodging a false police report. The false report was filed to prompt police action and took place on June 28 at the same police headquarters.

Jeon faced charges under Section 182 of the Penal Code, which prescribes penalties of up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.