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Thursday, 20 March 2014

Underage rape cases drop to 1,424 in 2013

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of statutory rape cases has declined from 1,550 cases in 2012 to 1,424 cases last year Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said at Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He said although the number of cases had declined, the trend was still worrying. Wan Junaidi was responding to a question by Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (BN-Setiu), who had asked the ministry to state the number of underage rape cases nationwide and the government's measures to stop them.

He said the government had added a special division in the Criminal Investigation Department to research combating crimes related to sexual and child abuse.

"One-stop crisis centres have been established in hospitals to help victims and handle them in a more professional manner.

"Counselling services are given in police stations to help victims who are traumatised. Reports are also taken in a special room so that victims do not have to testify in public."

He said children under the age of 16 could now testify on video at the Child Interview Centre.

"This is to protect the children from being threatened by suspects."

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