Too Lenient!

 

The Star, Thursday August 30, 2012

Groups disappointed over light sentences

By LOH FOON FONG, YUEN MEIKENG and QISHIN TARIQ
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

(From URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/8/30/nation/11934430&sec=nation)

PETALING JAYA: Women and children rights groups are disappointed over the “light” sentences handed down in the recent statutory rape cases, saying that the victims' interests were not protected.

Malaysian Child Resource Institute governor Aisha Z. Abdullah said that the judgments which did not punish the perpetrators was bordering on “blasphemy”.

“It opens a precedent that it is all right to have sex with minors,” she said.

Voicing concern: (From left) Prema, Ivy and Chong voicing their views on the light sentences handed down in the recent statutory rape cases.
 

She said for some groups, sex at an earlier age was not prohibited as it promoted procreation but teenagers might not be mature enough to handle the relationship while also being deprived of many opportunities and achievements in life.

Women's Centre for Change Penang programme director Prema Devaraj questioned whether a child aged 12 or 13 was mature enough to “effectively consent” to a sexual relationship.

“There are adults who prey on nave under-aged girls and although the sex may be allegedly consensual, the element of exploitation is very real,” she said.

Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah said children should be educated on the consequences of having sex at an early age.

MCA's Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said he had dealt with over 20 cases of statutory rape in the past five years.

“While some genuinely want to solve the problem, there are parents who try to extort money from the boy's family after their daughter is pregnant.

“If they do not pay up, the girl's parents will threaten to report the boy to the police or inform the media,” he said, adding that some parents have demanded for between RM50,000 and RM100,000.

National Council of Justices of the Peace secretary-general Datuk M. Ramalingam said Noor Afizal's case could be reviewed if the Court of Appeal reviewed its own decision or if the Public Prosecutor applied for a judicial review.

“In the absence of both, the court's decision is final and binding on all parties.

“Sad as it may be, but the decision has to be respected and the sanctity of court be honoured,” he said.