Special Criminal Court

Malaysia launches special court to handle child sex crimes

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Source: Asian Correspondent

Istana Kehakiman / Palace of Justice ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

MALAYSIA on Thursday launched a special court to handle sexual crimes against children, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, local media reported.

According to national news agency Bernama, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak said the court will help expedite cases related to pornography, child grooming and child sexual assault.

The setting up of the court is in tandem with the country’s recently-approved Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which will come into effect soon. The court will also hear its first case on July 4.

At the court’s inauguration in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s federal administrative capital, Najib proposed the development of special Standard Operating Procedures to handle child sex crimes.

“The special guidelines to be developed should meet the needs and requirements of child witnesses and be in accordance with the best practices in other countries,” Najib was quoted as saying. Read more →

PM says new law to address child sexual crimes

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Source: The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — A Bill to specially address child sexual crimes in a holistic and comprehensive manner is to be tabled in the current session of Parliament, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said it was hoped that the Child Sexual Offences Bill 2017 would receive the support of all MPs because it was the responsibility of all parties regardless of political affiliation.

“The Bill should not be opposed by any political party,” he said in his speech opening a seminar on addressing child sexual crimes, at the Putra World Trade Centre, here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who is Permata patron; Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak and Indonesia’s fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Najib said the government planned to establish a special court to hear child sexual crime cases.

The Prime Minister said the Special Criminal Court would be different from the existing Children’s Court which only handled cases where the criminal offenders were children.

He also said that the government would not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse of children and would strive to eliminate these heinous crimes. Read more →