
Nine-year-old boy allegedly sodomised by schoolmate
PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old boy who allegedly sexually assaulted his nine-year-old schoolmate cannot be prosecuted under Malaysia's current legal framework, highlighting a significant gap in the country's child protection laws.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that while the 12-year-old suspect has been arrested and investigated for the alleged sodomy incident, he cannot face charges in court due to Section 113 of the Evidence Act 1950.
The law stipulates that children below 13 years of age are considered incapable of committing rape based on an 'irrebuttable presumption,' effectively placing them beyond prosecution for such offenses.
According to Buletin TV3, the alleged sexual assault occurred approximately two months ago between the two boys, who attend the same primary school in Kelantan.
The victim subsequently informed his mother about the incident, prompting her to file a police report.
'The incident took place once and following that, the victim's mother came forward to lodge a police report,' Mohd Yusoff was quoted as saying.
The police chief expressed concern about the legal limitation, calling for amendments to address what he sees as an increasing problem involving underage perpetrators.
'Therefore, I am of the view that this section should be amended to allow for the perpetrator to be charged, as there have been many cases involving suspects who are also underage children,' he said.
The case underscores ongoing debates about how Malaysia's legal system should handle serious crimes committed by children, particularly as incidents involving juvenile offenders continue to emerge across the country.

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Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Police: Kelantan's crime index up by 15.1pc in 2024, notable increases in rapes and theft
KOTA BARU, June 4 — Kelantan recorded a 15.1 per cent rise in its crime index in 2024, driven mainly by increases in violent and property-related offences, according to state police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat. He stated that a total of 2,296 cases were reported between January and December last year, up from 1,994 cases in 2023, representing an increase of 302 cases. Violent crime rose by 8.5 per cent from 390 to 423 cases, while property crime climbed 16.7 per cent from 1,604 to 1,872 cases, he added. 'Among the most concerning trends is the spike in rape cases, which rose 20.7 per cent, from 130 in 2023 to 157 cases last year,' said Mohd Yusoff during the 2025 Kelantan Police Chief Town Hall Discussion, themed 'Youth Awareness: Preventing Social Ills, Shaping the Future', held at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. Armed robbery without firearms also increased by 25.6 per cent from 43 to 54 cases, while assault cases saw a more modest rise of 6.8 per cent from 147 to 157 cases. At the same time, several violent crimes recorded significant drops. Murder cases fell by 55.6 per cent from nine to four, and armed robbery involving firearms dropped 60 per cent from five to two instances. In the property crime category, theft remained the most significant contributor with 732 cases in 2024, up 50.9 per cent from 485 cases the previous year. House break-ins also rose sharply by 41.7 per cent with 628 cases, while car thefts increased by 23.3 per cent from nine to 12. However, motorcycle thefts declined significantly by 46.9 per cent from 128 cases in 2023 to 68 last year. — Bernama


The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Nine-year-old boy allegedly sodomised by schoolmate
PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old boy who allegedly sexually assaulted his nine-year-old schoolmate cannot be prosecuted under Malaysia's current legal framework, highlighting a significant gap in the country's child protection laws. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that while the 12-year-old suspect has been arrested and investigated for the alleged sodomy incident, he cannot face charges in court due to Section 113 of the Evidence Act 1950. The law stipulates that children below 13 years of age are considered incapable of committing rape based on an 'irrebuttable presumption,' effectively placing them beyond prosecution for such offenses. According to Buletin TV3, the alleged sexual assault occurred approximately two months ago between the two boys, who attend the same primary school in Kelantan. The victim subsequently informed his mother about the incident, prompting her to file a police report. 'The incident took place once and following that, the victim's mother came forward to lodge a police report,' Mohd Yusoff was quoted as saying. The police chief expressed concern about the legal limitation, calling for amendments to address what he sees as an increasing problem involving underage perpetrators. 'Therefore, I am of the view that this section should be amended to allow for the perpetrator to be charged, as there have been many cases involving suspects who are also underage children,' he said. The case underscores ongoing debates about how Malaysia's legal system should handle serious crimes committed by children, particularly as incidents involving juvenile offenders continue to emerge across the country.


The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
12-year-old who allegedly sodomised schoolmate cannot be charged under current Malaysian law: Kelantan police chief
PETALING JAYA: A 12-year-old boy who allegedly sexually assaulted his nine-year-old schoolmate cannot be prosecuted under Malaysia's current legal framework, highlighting a significant gap in the country's child protection laws. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that while the 12-year-old suspect has been arrested and investigated for the alleged sodomy incident, he cannot face charges in court due to Section 113 of the Evidence Act 1950. The law stipulates that children below 13 years of age are considered incapable of committing rape based on an 'irrebuttable presumption,' effectively placing them beyond prosecution for such offenses. According to Buletin TV3, the alleged sexual assault occurred approximately two months ago between the two boys, who attend the same primary school in Kelantan. The victim subsequently informed his mother about the incident, prompting her to file a police report. 'The incident took place once and following that, the victim's mother came forward to lodge a police report,' Mohd Yusoff was quoted as saying. The police chief expressed concern about the legal limitation, calling for amendments to address what he sees as an increasing problem involving underage perpetrators. 'Therefore, I am of the view that this section should be amended to allow for the perpetrator to be charged, as there have been many cases involving suspects who are also underage children,' he said. The case underscores ongoing debates about how Malaysia's legal system should handle serious crimes committed by children, particularly as incidents involving juvenile offenders continue to emerge across the country.