Kelantan Police Push for Legal Reform After Child Sexual Abuse Cases

Kelantan Police Call for Review of Rape Laws After Two Cases Involving Young Offenders In a significant development, Kelantan Police have urged for a review of Section 113 of the Evidence Act, a law that assumes children under the age of 12 are incapable of committing rape. This call comes in the wake of two recent cases of child sexual abuse in Kelantan. The first involved a 12-year-old boy who sodomized a 9-year-old boy. The second case involved the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Kulim, Kedah. "We need to review Section 113 of the Evidence Act and Section 82 of the Penal Code considering these cases," stated Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, Kelantan's Police Chief. He emphasized the need to adapt the law to reflect the evolving reality of child sexual abuse. The cases, both occurring within the last two months, have highlighted the complexities of prosecuting child offenders and the need for a more nuanced legal framework. The police are also seeking a review of Section 82 of the Penal Code, which currently states that children under 10 years old cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions. This review is crucial to ensure justice is served and to protect vulnerable children. The cases serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued efforts to protect children from sexual abuse and to improve the legal mechanisms for addressing such crimes.