KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The government has given the green
light to the Attorney General's Chambers to amend Section 376 of the
Penal Code to ensure that those convicted of raping underage girls
receive the mandatory jail term without liberty to resort to other legal
provisions to mitigate the sentence.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said today the amendment was proposed to maintain the mandatory imprisonment under Section 376 and judges could not invoke Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) to impose a sentence based on their discretion.
"This includes meting out a good behaviour bond order if the accused is a first offender or if there are extenuating circumstances to show that the law has not been adhered too," he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2013 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.
Mohamed Nazri said the decision was made to address the high incidence of rape involving underage girls and to protect them against such vulnerability.
"From 2007 to August 2012, a total of 5,976 rape cases were recorded involving girls aged below 16. In the same period, 5,119 people were charged for the offence," he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said today the amendment was proposed to maintain the mandatory imprisonment under Section 376 and judges could not invoke Section 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593) to impose a sentence based on their discretion.
"This includes meting out a good behaviour bond order if the accused is a first offender or if there are extenuating circumstances to show that the law has not been adhered too," he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2013 for his ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.
Mohamed Nazri said the decision was made to address the high incidence of rape involving underage girls and to protect them against such vulnerability.
"From 2007 to August 2012, a total of 5,976 rape cases were recorded involving girls aged below 16. In the same period, 5,119 people were charged for the offence," he said.
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