2007 08:Shelter Home to provide legal aid to juveniles in jail

The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday August 9, 2007

PETALING JAYA: Welfare organisation Shelter Home will provide legal aid to the 700-odd juveniles in Kajang Prison.

Its executive director, James Nayagam, said the bulk of the juveniles were facing very minor offences, and most were held under remand.

“Some of the boys have been stuck in prison for three years because their cases, like Jeff Lee’s, have been postponed umpteen times.

“If no one fights for them or at least takes into consideration their suffering, they will definitely be socially lost forever.

“These are young boys who have committed minor offences being thrown among hardcore criminals. What do you think each passing day in jail would do to them?” asked Nayagam.

He said the organisation has assembled a legal team that would be going out immediately and approach as many juveniles as it could.

While he admitted that not all imprisoned juveniles were totally “innocent,” Nayagam is determined to do what he can to give help to those who deserve it.

“A recent research conducted by Shelter showed that 80% of child offenders came from broken homes and were very socially disturbed.

“One must understand that it is a vicious cycle. If we do not help them now, they give up hope on life and will certainly find difficulty in finding a job or even a life partner for that matter in future,” Nayagam said.