Malaysia to table bill ensuring mandatory jail for rapists

A bill is to be tabled to disallow judges from handing down lenient sentences to statutory rapists even if they are first-time offenders.

The Bill adds to the Penal Code, which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years and whipping for statutory rape.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz said the provision would state that the Criminal Procedure Code which gives judges discretionary powers to give a lighter sentence to first-time offenders would not apply to statutory rape cases.

"I have spoken to the Attorney-General on the provision and he has agreed, therefore, it will be tabled in the next session of Parliament," Aziz said here yesterday.

Women's groups and other non-governmental organisations have been upset by what they regarded as very lenient sentences passed on former national youth squad bowler Noor Afizal Azizan and electrician Chuah Guan Jiu for statutory rape.

The two were bound over for 25,000 Malaysian ringgit (about 4 lakh rupees) for good behaviour for five years and three years respectively after being found guilty of statutory rape in August this year.

They were 19 and 21 respectively when they committed the offences while their victims were 13 and 12.

Nazri said the additional provision was important to protect minors, who could be easily influenced.

On the Appeal Court's decision on Noor Afizal, the country's Attorney General has said he might propose the use of the court's inherent power to review its decision.

As of July this year, 859 cases of statutory rape have been reported, 109 of them involving children under 12, and 750 victims aged between 13 and 15.