A fine of Rs 5,000 each was also imposed on the accused
Kochi : The NIA special court in Kochi sentenced 15 Sri Lankan nationals to 15 days of simple imprisonment for attempting to illegally migrate to Canada by trying to board a vessel from Kollam. A fine of Rs 5,000 each was also imposed on them. They were caught by police in 2023 as they attempted to board a vessel from Vaaddy Harbour in Kollam.
The accused pleaded guilty to charges under the Foreigners Act, leading to the sentencing.
They will undergo an additional 15 days of imprisonment each if they fail to pay the fine. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. The prosecution case was that the accused were residing in various Sri Lankan rehabilitation and refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, including Puzhal (Chennai), Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai and Tirunelveli. They allegedly left the camps without permission and travelled to Kollam as part of a plan to migrate illegally to Canada. The accused were given assistance with translation as they voluntarily pleaded guilty. The court sentenced them considering the nature of the offences and the period the accused had already spent in custody. Download the TOI App.
NIA took over the case and later filed the final report before the court.