The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 28, 2007
SUBANG JAYA: The 11-month-old baby, who was battling for his life after allegedly being abused by a foreign maid, died at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) yesterday.
A post-mortem at the Serdang Hospital revealed that Mohd Naim Alma Zaadi's death was due to head injuries.
District OCPD Asst Comm Zainal Rashid said the police have reclassified the case as murder.
“The 32-year-old Indonesian maid, who was arrested on Saturday, is under police custody until Wednesday (tomorrow), pending further investigations,” he said.
The toddler was admitted to SJMC after his father, Alma Zaadi Annwar, 36, noticed that his son looked ill at about 4pm on Wednesday.
About two hours earlier that day, he received a phone call from the maid saying that the child was crying uncontrollably.
He rushed home to pacify his son and then returned to work.
Later, the maid called again with the same complaint.
Suspecting something amiss, the company director rushed his son to SJMC. Mohd Naim later slipped into a coma.
The toddler, the youngest of three siblings, was laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery in USJ 21 here after zohor prayers yesterday.
Met at the burial ground, his mother, Norashikin Mohd Ali, 37, said although she had noticed some bruises on her son, she was not sure how he had sustained it.
“He had just begun to take baby steps and I am still not sure if the bruises were due to an accident or abuse.
“I hope the Government will make it compulsory for all maids to go through a psychiatric evaluation. Our maid did not show any aggressive demeanour for the three months that she worked with us,” said the assistant manager.
The baby’s uncle, Redzuan Yahaya, 47 said the maid showed no signs of remorse when he told her the chances of the baby’s survival was 50-50.
“Even when I told her that she was going to be questioned by the police, she merely answered ‘OK’, which is quite surprising,” he said.
Friday 31 August 2007
2007 08: Friendly girl missing for past week
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 27, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin’s friendly character could be a reason why she has been missing from home for the past week.
Her father Jazimin Abd Jalil, 33, said she could have followed someone whom she recognised.
“Whoever it was, please bring my daughter back. My wife and I cannot take this torture anymore,” Jazimin said at his home in Wangsa Maju here yesterday.
Nurin, a Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak, did not return home after going to the night market near the flats at 8.30pm last Monday. She was wearing a pink dress.
Jazimin said Nurin suffered from a kidney problem and high blood pressure and needed her daily medication.
“Otherwise her body will bloat up,” the taxi driver said.
Her mother Norazian Bistaman, 35, allowed Nurin, the second of four daughters, to go alone as the night market is near their home.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman urged those with information to contact the family at 019-366 7067 or 013- 248 6651 or the UMNO youth public complaints bureau at 019-325 5886 or 03- 40441199.
.............................................................
Girl seen being pulled into van
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday August 30, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, who has been missing since Aug 22, was seen being pulled into a van near a pasar malam in Wangsa Maju where she had gone.
Sources said that a neighbour’s daughter had seen a man, believed to be in his early 20s, standing outside a van and later pulling Nurin into the vehicle.
Nurin is said to have resisted and overheard saying tak nak, tak nak (no, no).
Sentul OCPD Asst Comm K. Kumaran confirmed that police had received such information.
“We are now investigating,'' he said, adding that police had several leads to work on.
Police have classified the case under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping from lawful guardianship.
Nurin, a Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak, failed to return home after going to the pasar malam alone at 8.30pm that day.
The girl, the second among four children, usually visited the area with her elder sister, aged nine.
Her mother Norazian Bistaman, 35, allowed her to go on her own to the pasar malam as it was close to their flat.
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin’s friendly character could be a reason why she has been missing from home for the past week.
Her father Jazimin Abd Jalil, 33, said she could have followed someone whom she recognised.
“Whoever it was, please bring my daughter back. My wife and I cannot take this torture anymore,” Jazimin said at his home in Wangsa Maju here yesterday.
Nurin, a Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak, did not return home after going to the night market near the flats at 8.30pm last Monday. She was wearing a pink dress.
Jazimin said Nurin suffered from a kidney problem and high blood pressure and needed her daily medication.
“Otherwise her body will bloat up,” the taxi driver said.
Her mother Norazian Bistaman, 35, allowed Nurin, the second of four daughters, to go alone as the night market is near their home.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman urged those with information to contact the family at 019-366 7067 or 013- 248 6651 or the UMNO youth public complaints bureau at 019-325 5886 or 03- 40441199.
.............................................................
Girl seen being pulled into van
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday August 30, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin, who has been missing since Aug 22, was seen being pulled into a van near a pasar malam in Wangsa Maju where she had gone.
Sources said that a neighbour’s daughter had seen a man, believed to be in his early 20s, standing outside a van and later pulling Nurin into the vehicle.
Nurin is said to have resisted and overheard saying tak nak, tak nak (no, no).
Sentul OCPD Asst Comm K. Kumaran confirmed that police had received such information.
“We are now investigating,'' he said, adding that police had several leads to work on.
Police have classified the case under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping from lawful guardianship.
Nurin, a Year Two pupil of SK Desa Setapak, failed to return home after going to the pasar malam alone at 8.30pm that day.
The girl, the second among four children, usually visited the area with her elder sister, aged nine.
Her mother Norazian Bistaman, 35, allowed her to go on her own to the pasar malam as it was close to their flat.
Thursday 23 August 2007
2007 08: Welfare home boys: Seniors sodomised us
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 22, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Four eight-year-old boys from a welfare home claimed they were sodomised by their seniors.
The boys, from the home run by the Pure Life Society, were taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur on Friday and a Welfare Department officer said medical reports showed that they were sodomised.
Police have questioned six senior boys, all above 13.
The home in Jalan Puchong houses abused children and orphans.
Taped recordings of several boys narrating their ordeal were made available to The Star.
The tapes were handed over to Deputy Supt Choo Li Ly, who investigates sexual and child abuse cases in the city. A police report has been made.
It is believed that the children had reported the incidents, which occurred over a year, to the home wardens but no action was taken.
A report was also lodged by a 17-year-old girl at the home who alleged that a supervisor had physically abused and threatened her with a knife.
Pure Life Society vice-president Datuk Ghazali Mohd Yusoff said the organisation viewed the matter seriously and promised to get to the bottom of the matter.
KUALA LUMPUR: Four eight-year-old boys from a welfare home claimed they were sodomised by their seniors.
The boys, from the home run by the Pure Life Society, were taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur on Friday and a Welfare Department officer said medical reports showed that they were sodomised.
Police have questioned six senior boys, all above 13.
The home in Jalan Puchong houses abused children and orphans.
Taped recordings of several boys narrating their ordeal were made available to The Star.
The tapes were handed over to Deputy Supt Choo Li Ly, who investigates sexual and child abuse cases in the city. A police report has been made.
It is believed that the children had reported the incidents, which occurred over a year, to the home wardens but no action was taken.
A report was also lodged by a 17-year-old girl at the home who alleged that a supervisor had physically abused and threatened her with a knife.
Pure Life Society vice-president Datuk Ghazali Mohd Yusoff said the organisation viewed the matter seriously and promised to get to the bottom of the matter.
2007 08: Pupil sodomises four-year-old
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 18, 2007
A TWELVE-year-old boy sodomised a four-year-old after watching pornography, China Press reported.
The boy, a Year Six pupil in Klang, had watched the movie with his elder brother two days before the incident when no one was at home.
The four-year-old boy was being looked after by the 12-year-old's mother.
A police report was lodged by the four-year-old's mother on Aug 15.
The 12-year-old boy was arrested and was in remand pending investigations under Section 377 of the Penal Code.
A TWELVE-year-old boy sodomised a four-year-old after watching pornography, China Press reported.
The boy, a Year Six pupil in Klang, had watched the movie with his elder brother two days before the incident when no one was at home.
The four-year-old boy was being looked after by the 12-year-old's mother.
A police report was lodged by the four-year-old's mother on Aug 15.
The 12-year-old boy was arrested and was in remand pending investigations under Section 377 of the Penal Code.
Sunday 19 August 2007
2007 08: Sex clip of teen with cop causes stir in Raub
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday August 16, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A video clip depicting a 14-year-old girl having sex with a 46-year-old extra police constable is believed to be circulating in Raub, Pahang.
When the girl’s father heard about the clip being passed around, he lodged a police report and the man, who does carpentry work at a police station, was arrested.
An extra police constable does odd jobs like carpentry and chauffeuring.
They do not get involved in operational matters even though they are full-time policemen with a fixed salary, which is less than ordinary constables.
It is learnt the man, with the rank of L/Kpl, was picked up from his house in Raub last Friday.
The girl is alleged to have had an affair with the man for several months and she only informed her mother about the relationship after a friend told her about the video clip.
Pahang CID chief Asst Comm T. Narenasegaran confirmed police had arrested the man for alleged statutory rape. A one-week remand order has been obtained to facilitate investigations.
KUALA LUMPUR: A video clip depicting a 14-year-old girl having sex with a 46-year-old extra police constable is believed to be circulating in Raub, Pahang.
When the girl’s father heard about the clip being passed around, he lodged a police report and the man, who does carpentry work at a police station, was arrested.
An extra police constable does odd jobs like carpentry and chauffeuring.
They do not get involved in operational matters even though they are full-time policemen with a fixed salary, which is less than ordinary constables.
It is learnt the man, with the rank of L/Kpl, was picked up from his house in Raub last Friday.
The girl is alleged to have had an affair with the man for several months and she only informed her mother about the relationship after a friend told her about the video clip.
Pahang CID chief Asst Comm T. Narenasegaran confirmed police had arrested the man for alleged statutory rape. A one-week remand order has been obtained to facilitate investigations.
2007 08: Centre to shelter sex and abuse victims
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 15, 2007
KUANTAN: The state government and police want to establish a “victims and childcare” centre to help those involved in sexual and abuse cases.
Pahang CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Ayob Mohamed said victims would be given shelter pending investigations.
“There is a need for this facility as at present, victims have to be sent to Bukit Aman.
“Bukit Aman also has to serve such victims from Kelantan and Terengganu,” DCP Ayob said in his briefing to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Adnan had earlier launched the Pahang tourist police unit, with the first to be located here.
An officer will lead the unit of 12 policemen.
DCP Ayob said the personnel had undergone courses in English, public relations and also briefed on the state’s tourism products.
He said four patrol cars and two motorcycles have been assigned to the unit.
DCP Ayob said the unit would be expanded to cover other popular tourist areas such as Cameron Highlands and Fraser’s Hill.
He said a detailed study was also under way to identify areas which needed new and upgraded police stations.
Welcoming these moves, Adnan said it was important for the police to make their presence felt.
KUANTAN: The state government and police want to establish a “victims and childcare” centre to help those involved in sexual and abuse cases.
Pahang CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Ayob Mohamed said victims would be given shelter pending investigations.
“There is a need for this facility as at present, victims have to be sent to Bukit Aman.
“Bukit Aman also has to serve such victims from Kelantan and Terengganu,” DCP Ayob said in his briefing to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Adnan had earlier launched the Pahang tourist police unit, with the first to be located here.
An officer will lead the unit of 12 policemen.
DCP Ayob said the personnel had undergone courses in English, public relations and also briefed on the state’s tourism products.
He said four patrol cars and two motorcycles have been assigned to the unit.
DCP Ayob said the unit would be expanded to cover other popular tourist areas such as Cameron Highlands and Fraser’s Hill.
He said a detailed study was also under way to identify areas which needed new and upgraded police stations.
Welcoming these moves, Adnan said it was important for the police to make their presence felt.
2007 08: Four arrested for gang-rape at Felda settlement
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 15, 2007
BAHAU: A 20-year-old man and three teenagers, including the son of a politician, have been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl at the Felda Palong settlement near here early this week.
The four, three of whom are still studying, were brought to the Bahau Magistrate's Court here to be remanded today.
Police are looking for two more people who were allegedly involved in the gang-rape. The two people, one who is still a student, are believed to have fled upon hearing of the arrests of their friends.
According to police sources, one of the teenagers, believed to be studying in the same school as the victim, had invited her to his house at Felda Palong as his parents were away.
"Once there, he allegedly raped her. He then called five of his friends who allegedly took turns raping the victim who is in Form Two," he said adding that police had yet to determine if the victim knew her five other attackers.
After raping her, one of the alleged rapists dropped her off near her home in the same settlement.
The victim's mother only realised what had happened when she saw scratches on her daughter's neck on Monday night.
"When she asked her daughter what happened, the girl, who was initially reluctant to relate her ordeal, narrated the alleged rapes," he said.
Her parents lodged a report at a police beat base in Palong on the same night. Police arrested the four from their homes between midnight and early this morning.
The four would be remanded until Aug 21.
BAHAU: A 20-year-old man and three teenagers, including the son of a politician, have been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl at the Felda Palong settlement near here early this week.
The four, three of whom are still studying, were brought to the Bahau Magistrate's Court here to be remanded today.
Police are looking for two more people who were allegedly involved in the gang-rape. The two people, one who is still a student, are believed to have fled upon hearing of the arrests of their friends.
According to police sources, one of the teenagers, believed to be studying in the same school as the victim, had invited her to his house at Felda Palong as his parents were away.
"Once there, he allegedly raped her. He then called five of his friends who allegedly took turns raping the victim who is in Form Two," he said adding that police had yet to determine if the victim knew her five other attackers.
After raping her, one of the alleged rapists dropped her off near her home in the same settlement.
The victim's mother only realised what had happened when she saw scratches on her daughter's neck on Monday night.
"When she asked her daughter what happened, the girl, who was initially reluctant to relate her ordeal, narrated the alleged rapes," he said.
Her parents lodged a report at a police beat base in Palong on the same night. Police arrested the four from their homes between midnight and early this morning.
The four would be remanded until Aug 21.
2007 08: Man charged with raping stepdaughter
The Star Online. News. Courts. Tuesday August 14, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A burger seller has claimed trial to raping his underage stepdaughter four years ago.
The 43-year-old man was accused of raping the 13-year-old girl in his house in Sentul at 3.30pm in December 2003.
The girl had lodged a police report over the alleged rape on Feb 12, 2004.
DPP Ahmad Fuad Othman asked the court to deny bail saying that the prosecution was concerned that the accused would disturb the victim pending trial.
Sessions Court judge Datin Anita Harun imposed bail at RM30,000 in two local sureties.
Anita also imposed additional bail conditions – the accused should not contact the victim at anytime and that he had to report to Sentul district police station every Monday.
She set three days from Jan 14 next year for his trial.
KUALA LUMPUR: A burger seller has claimed trial to raping his underage stepdaughter four years ago.
The 43-year-old man was accused of raping the 13-year-old girl in his house in Sentul at 3.30pm in December 2003.
The girl had lodged a police report over the alleged rape on Feb 12, 2004.
DPP Ahmad Fuad Othman asked the court to deny bail saying that the prosecution was concerned that the accused would disturb the victim pending trial.
Sessions Court judge Datin Anita Harun imposed bail at RM30,000 in two local sureties.
Anita also imposed additional bail conditions – the accused should not contact the victim at anytime and that he had to report to Sentul district police station every Monday.
She set three days from Jan 14 next year for his trial.
2007 08: Shamed by guilt, teen takes own life
NST Online. Frontpage. 13/8/07
MIRI: It was a shame he apparently could not face.
Despondent and ashamed that he had been found guilty, together with four friends, of a petty crime they had committed in June, a Form Two student of a school in Ulu Baram took his own life on Saturday.
He took his uncle’s shotgun, pressed his face against the muzzle and used his toe to press the trigger until the gun fired.
The 14-year-old had been found guilty together with his friends of breaking into a neighbour’s house and stealing some jewellery some time ago but had been released on bail pending sentencing.
The court was supposed to hear a probation report which was to have been filed on Sept 4.
It is understood that the prospect of having to serve time in a reform school had been weighing heavily on the boy’s mind.
Baram police chief DSP Jonathan Jalin said police had classified the case as sudden death.
He said the boy had left a note for his parents explaining his actions before going to a hut which was used as an iron foundry by the residents of the longhouse where he lived.
There, at 11am, he shot himself.
"Some longhouse residents heard the sound of a gunshot coming from the hut by the river not far from the longhouse and when they went to investigate, found the youth dead inside," said Jalin.
The youth’s body was sent to the Miri Hospital and a post-mortem is to be conducted today.
Bakong is about 80km from Miri.
MIRI: It was a shame he apparently could not face.
Despondent and ashamed that he had been found guilty, together with four friends, of a petty crime they had committed in June, a Form Two student of a school in Ulu Baram took his own life on Saturday.
He took his uncle’s shotgun, pressed his face against the muzzle and used his toe to press the trigger until the gun fired.
The 14-year-old had been found guilty together with his friends of breaking into a neighbour’s house and stealing some jewellery some time ago but had been released on bail pending sentencing.
The court was supposed to hear a probation report which was to have been filed on Sept 4.
It is understood that the prospect of having to serve time in a reform school had been weighing heavily on the boy’s mind.
Baram police chief DSP Jonathan Jalin said police had classified the case as sudden death.
He said the boy had left a note for his parents explaining his actions before going to a hut which was used as an iron foundry by the residents of the longhouse where he lived.
There, at 11am, he shot himself.
"Some longhouse residents heard the sound of a gunshot coming from the hut by the river not far from the longhouse and when they went to investigate, found the youth dead inside," said Jalin.
The youth’s body was sent to the Miri Hospital and a post-mortem is to be conducted today.
Bakong is about 80km from Miri.
2007 08: Over 6,000 teens missing since 2004
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 13, 2007
MORE than 6,270 teenagers had been reported missing since 2004 and 4,620 of them were teenage girls, reported Metro Ahad.
However, police statistics have revealed something more alarming – in 2005, 71 of the girls who fled their homes were found dead. Last year, another 71 missing girls' bodies were found. There were 3,246 missing girls reports lodged last year.
Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said between January 2004 and May this year, 67.5% (4,237) of the 6,270 teenagers had been found.
During the same period, a total of 149 girls below the age of nine were also reported missing.
MORE than 6,270 teenagers had been reported missing since 2004 and 4,620 of them were teenage girls, reported Metro Ahad.
However, police statistics have revealed something more alarming – in 2005, 71 of the girls who fled their homes were found dead. Last year, another 71 missing girls' bodies were found. There were 3,246 missing girls reports lodged last year.
Criminal Investigation Department deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said between January 2004 and May this year, 67.5% (4,237) of the 6,270 teenagers had been found.
During the same period, a total of 149 girls below the age of nine were also reported missing.
2007 08: Remand at welfare homes
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 13, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has proposed that minors involved in minor offences be remanded in welfare homes instead of prisons.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he had discussed the matter with the police and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“I am very reluctant to charge minors, especially those detained for identity card offences or other offences deemed petty.
“I believe they must be given a second chance. If they are put in prisons then there is a strong possibility that they may be bitter and become even worse upon release.
“It is better if they are remanded in welfare homes where they can be educated and rehabilitated,” he told The Star.
It was reported that there are about 400 young people being remanded in prisons awaiting trial.
Gani said he was sensitive to public reaction and appreciated the expressions of concern.
“To us such reactions are like information and we listen so that we can do justice to those concerned,” he added.
Gani said that in some cases he had no choice but to charge minors and bind them over.
“But if they are caught again they would be remanded in prisons,” he said.
He said details were being finalised on the type of remand centres needed and their locations and he had asked the Prisons Department to inform the Chambers of any minors being charged with petty offences.
He said before a person was sent to a welfare home, the necessary checks would be made to ascertain the type of offences and if it involved a first-time offender.
On another subject, Gani said he had also discussed with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan on how best to handle witnesses.
He said there have been weaknesses in the handling of witnesses.
“I don’t want to point fingers at anyone.
“We follow strictly the three basic ideals and principals of prosecution that is to ensure a fair trial, protect the accused rights and finally to disclose evidence that is favourable to the accused,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has proposed that minors involved in minor offences be remanded in welfare homes instead of prisons.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he had discussed the matter with the police and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“I am very reluctant to charge minors, especially those detained for identity card offences or other offences deemed petty.
“I believe they must be given a second chance. If they are put in prisons then there is a strong possibility that they may be bitter and become even worse upon release.
“It is better if they are remanded in welfare homes where they can be educated and rehabilitated,” he told The Star.
It was reported that there are about 400 young people being remanded in prisons awaiting trial.
Gani said he was sensitive to public reaction and appreciated the expressions of concern.
“To us such reactions are like information and we listen so that we can do justice to those concerned,” he added.
Gani said that in some cases he had no choice but to charge minors and bind them over.
“But if they are caught again they would be remanded in prisons,” he said.
He said details were being finalised on the type of remand centres needed and their locations and he had asked the Prisons Department to inform the Chambers of any minors being charged with petty offences.
He said before a person was sent to a welfare home, the necessary checks would be made to ascertain the type of offences and if it involved a first-time offender.
On another subject, Gani said he had also discussed with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan on how best to handle witnesses.
He said there have been weaknesses in the handling of witnesses.
“I don’t want to point fingers at anyone.
“We follow strictly the three basic ideals and principals of prosecution that is to ensure a fair trial, protect the accused rights and finally to disclose evidence that is favourable to the accused,” he said.
2007 08: Ice-cream invitation turns into rape for 14-year-old girl
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 13, 2007
KLANG: A 14-year-old girl who went out on a blind date, made via Short Message Service (SMS), ended up being allegedly raped.
Klang OCPD assistant commissioner Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof said the teenager who lives in Kuala Selangor had received an SMS to go out for a good time at a shopping complex on Sunday afternoon.
“Our initial investigations revealed that the schoolgirl met a boy of the same age who also lives in Kuala Selangor. They met at a shopping complex in Sungai Buloh for window-shopping, some vanilla ice-cream and coffee,” he said.
ACP Rodwan added that further questioning showed that the boy had told the girl that he was going to an adopted sister’s home in Kapar and would later return to Kuala Selangor.
“On hearing this the girl accompanied the boy as she did not want him to return to Kuala Selangor alone on his motorcycle. On reaching the house in Kapar, the boy convinced the girl to have sex and they both stayed the night at Kapar. They returned home the next morning,” he said.
ACP Rodwan added that a police report was lodged after the girl related the incident to her mother.
“We have remanded the boy for two days to facilitate medical examinations,” he said.
ACP Rodwan advised parents to keep tabs on their children’s whereabouts and get acquainted with their friends.
In an unrelated case ACP Rodwan cautioned the public to take extra measures to secure their motorcycles or vehicles and not leave their cars unlocked while running errands.
“Last Saturday and Sunday we had 18 reported cases of vehicle thefts. The majority of the cases were due to carelessness where the keys were left in the ignition, parked in dimly-lit alleys and with no alarms,” he said.
KLANG: A 14-year-old girl who went out on a blind date, made via Short Message Service (SMS), ended up being allegedly raped.
Klang OCPD assistant commissioner Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof said the teenager who lives in Kuala Selangor had received an SMS to go out for a good time at a shopping complex on Sunday afternoon.
“Our initial investigations revealed that the schoolgirl met a boy of the same age who also lives in Kuala Selangor. They met at a shopping complex in Sungai Buloh for window-shopping, some vanilla ice-cream and coffee,” he said.
ACP Rodwan added that further questioning showed that the boy had told the girl that he was going to an adopted sister’s home in Kapar and would later return to Kuala Selangor.
“On hearing this the girl accompanied the boy as she did not want him to return to Kuala Selangor alone on his motorcycle. On reaching the house in Kapar, the boy convinced the girl to have sex and they both stayed the night at Kapar. They returned home the next morning,” he said.
ACP Rodwan added that a police report was lodged after the girl related the incident to her mother.
“We have remanded the boy for two days to facilitate medical examinations,” he said.
ACP Rodwan advised parents to keep tabs on their children’s whereabouts and get acquainted with their friends.
In an unrelated case ACP Rodwan cautioned the public to take extra measures to secure their motorcycles or vehicles and not leave their cars unlocked while running errands.
“Last Saturday and Sunday we had 18 reported cases of vehicle thefts. The majority of the cases were due to carelessness where the keys were left in the ignition, parked in dimly-lit alleys and with no alarms,” he said.
Tuesday 14 August 2007
Monday 13 August 2007
2007 08: Boy, 14, found dead with gunshot wound
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday August 12, 2007
MIRI: A 14-year-old boy from a rural longhouse some 100km south of here was found dead in a farm hut with a gaping gunshot wound on his neck yesterday.
The boy, believed to be the son of a farmer, was from a longhouse located deep in the Beleru sub-district, more than three hours by road from here.
Miri police received an SOS yesterday afternoon, from members of the farming community saying the boy had been found shot to death.
An initial probe revealed that villagers heard a gunshot sometime in the afternoon and found the boy dead in the hut.
His body was still in a sitting position and he was holding a hunting rifle. It is also learnt the villagers found a note with some handwritten words.
MIRI: A 14-year-old boy from a rural longhouse some 100km south of here was found dead in a farm hut with a gaping gunshot wound on his neck yesterday.
The boy, believed to be the son of a farmer, was from a longhouse located deep in the Beleru sub-district, more than three hours by road from here.
Miri police received an SOS yesterday afternoon, from members of the farming community saying the boy had been found shot to death.
An initial probe revealed that villagers heard a gunshot sometime in the afternoon and found the boy dead in the hut.
His body was still in a sitting position and he was holding a hunting rifle. It is also learnt the villagers found a note with some handwritten words.
2007 08: Ministry studying issue of children under remand
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday August 12, 2007
PETALING JAYA: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is looking into the issue of children under remand.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who visited the Kajang Prison in May, said the issue was discussed at the National Advisory and Consultative Council for Children.
The council set up a committee consisting of representatives from the ministry, the police, Attorney-General’s chambers, the Prison Department, courts and several related NGOs.
After a series of meetings, the committee came up with several proposals to be submitted to the council.
Among the proposals are making bails more affordable for parents or guardians, fast-tracking children’s cases, ensuring that children get legal aid and ensuring that remand centres for children have child-friendly facilities.
Provisions such as education, recreational activities and health would also be included in these remand centres.
Shahrizat said the policy on children was that only those charged with serious offences could be remanded in prison.
“The non-serious offenders should be remanded under the Department of Social Welfare. We are also looking at moving these children to the centre under the department,” she said.
Shahrizat was referring to the case of Jeff Lee Kwong Yong, 19, who was jailed more than six months after pleading guilty to an identity card offence. The case had been postponed five times.
.............................................................
Not the place for children
The Star Online. Opinion. Sunday August 12, 2007
There is an urgent need to set up special courts with magistrates assigned solely to cases involving children, and to expedite court hearings. The Child Act 2001 has to be enforced in spirit and not just in letter.
JEFF Lee Kwong Yong is now safely back home after being held in remand at Kajang prison for six months and seven days. With the welfare of one boy now taken care of, there are now in excess of 400 boys left to be dealt with – in Kajang prison alone.
In Malaysia, an accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, for these 400 boys, they appear to be receiving punishment even before they have been tried. This is all because – for one reason or another – bail has not been posted pending their respective trials.
Some of them, like Lee, end up spending terms that exceed the incarceration period for their offence as prescribed by law.
Lee, at 19, is not considered a child (under the Child Act 2001, a child is 18 years of age and below) but a young offender (below 21), hence his incarceration in this particular place of detention.
Notwithstanding Lee's age, a six-month incarceration may seem to be excessive punishment for a minor offence like not being able to produce an identity card, but according to the strict letter of the law, it is all by the book.
Under Section 84 of the Child Act 2001, a child must be brought before a magistrate in a Court For Children within 24 hours to determine bail.
The problem, however, arises in instances where the accused is not bailed. According to Section 86 (1) of the said Act, a child awaiting trial who has not been bailed shall be held in a “place of detention”. Kajang Prison has been gazetted as such.
The Malaysian Bar Council Criminal Law committee chairman Datuk V. Sithambaram, who was also legal counsel for Lee, says, “Most of them are being held for bailable offences but their families have not posted bail. Therefore, if they are not bailed, they inevitably end up spending time there.”
Lawyer Yapp Swee Hock, who works together with the Shelter Home for Children on certain cases, adds that many are detained on minor offences where the bail set is very low, sometimes as low as RM500. One child, for example, is still in Kajang Prison for stealing a motorcycle because his parents were not able to come up with RM1,000 for bail.
Why then are these cases not expedited so they do not spend extended time in prison? Says Sithambaram: “To be fair to the courts, there is a shortage of magistrates, interpreters and courts – all these have resulted in cases being adjourned for long periods. We have the same magistrates who sit in the Court for Children who are also handling traffic cases.”
Additionally, there are other mitigating circumstances that can lead to delays in the system.
In the case of Lee, says Sithambaram, he could not remember his IC number and refused to let his family know of his whereabouts, which contributed to his case being postponed up to six times because they were unable to verify his identity.
But he qualifies, “Everything is online, and they knew four months earlier that he was working in Kuala Lumpur, so it should not have taken six months to verify.”
Another issue is that some children who appear in the Court for Children for bail hearings do not have legal representation.
Yapp says that some are represented, but not all of them are.
“It all depends if the parents have appointed a lawyer or not. As for free Legal Aid, they would not necessarily know as the bail hearing is set soon after the charge. So if nobody knows they are being detained, nobody will take any action.”
Yapp also believes that some of the children's families cannot afford a lawyer. “If they cannot even afford the deposit for the lawyer, what more the bailable amount?”
James Nayagam, executive director of Shelter, is distressed that such situations can arise.
“They are supposed to have legal representation, but in most cases they do not. This worries me because they are just children and have to stand alone with no protection – so off they go to Kajang Prison.”
Nayagam says that sadly Kajang Prison is not the only place that has been gazetted as a “place of detention”, and there are more conducive environments where children can be held in remand, such as the Tunas Bakti boarding schools.
“Simply put, it appears the magistrates are not aware of, and not even provided with a list of options besides Kajang Prison, so they follow whatever is convenient.”
Sithambaram believes that there is a need for a revamp of the whole system. Special courts for children need to be set up that are different and separate from the normal courts, with dedicated magistrates assigned solely to take care of cases involving children, and not just deal with the problems when they crop up.
“This concerns the rights of children. One should take serious notice because if you do not, the people will lose respect for the Rule of Law. In that context, children are a major issue. The Child Act has to be enforced in spirit and not just in letter,” he adds.
Fortunately, the outlook is not all doom and gloom, and Nayagam speaks of a task force – of which he is a member – set up in March this year, the brainchild of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
The task force is headed by Datuk Shamsiah Abdul Rahman, with its members consisting of personnel from the Attorney-General's department, the Judiciary, the Police, the Social Welfare Department and the Legal Aid department.
“Our main task is to advise the minister on the well-being of children in detention and to present a fast track for court hearings. We have come up with a proposed flow chart on how to deal with such cases,” Nayagam says.
Among the issues proposed are to have parents and a social welfare officer – as a protector – present at the time of the police report, and a maximum detention period of one month or less if possible.
“Not only are we looking to reduce the number of cases, but also rehabilitation programmes at centres with proper facilities. We also need proper detention centres – it should be more like a hostel managed with the co-operation of the Prisons Department, and upon release, there should be a follow-up to the well-being of the child. We should no longer need the services of a prison.”
Nayagam adds: “I am very encouraged by the participation of the members and would like to thank them for speaking freely and being committed to dealing with the situation.”
.............................................................
Something is very wrong with us
The Star Online. Opinion. Wednesday August 15, 2007
The 2,718 male children aged 14-20 being remanded in prisons to abuse of toddlers, some resulting in death, by young parents, are indeed worrying to say the least. Yet little seems to be done to reduce or to prevent this from happening altogether.
YOUNG people are in the news again, with the recent furore about them being remanded in prison. Although it may be too late for many of them, hopefully the concern expressed by NGOs, the public and the Government will mean that no more children and young ones will be subject to prison for the smallest of offences.
However, we have to wonder why there are already 2,718 male children aged 14-20 in prisons before someone finally made a fuss. Surely it was already an injustice for the very first child to have been held in prison. Why had nobody raised the issue earlier? Surely even prison wardens must have known this was not right.
Some of these children were arrested for not having their identity cards on them. As much as this is an offence under the law, surely it should not lead to prison especially for children. Do we follow the law in automatic fashion leaving no room for humanitarian considerations?
Having now realised that there are all these children in prisons, in what way will we compensate for their loss of childhood? Prison is hardly the most conducive place for children.
Who knows what sorts of things are now wired into the minds of these unfortunate young people setting the course for their futures.
Teenage years are a particularly sensitive time and not handling them correctly can lead to later misbehaviour. How do we prevent that from happening? Or do we simply blame them later without considering our own complicity?
It seems to be a particularly Malaysian thing to not spend much effort on prevention when often it is much easier to do than to sweep up the after-effects of lack of forethought later.
Our refusal to teach young people proper sex education means that unwed pregnancies are not prevented. Even if young people get married because there is a baby on the way, what do we do to prepare them for the many responsibilities of marriage including the stresses and strains that one can expect?
If there is one thing that seems to be common among the recent cases of child abuse is how young the parents are, barely out of childhood themselves. In the recent death of a 17-month-old toddler, the mother was 18 and the father was 22. The child was the elder of their two children.
In Penang, a 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to physically and emotionally abusing his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter. Another 25-year-old man in Kota Kinabalu was accused of abusing his lover’s four-year-old son.
Perhaps when a baby ceases to be cute and becomes ever-more demanding, young parents become less patient. Perhaps they are no longer with their child’s other biological parent and feel less secure with their new boyfriend or girlfriend.
Nothing could be less attractive than a wailing child. Perhaps one day it just got too much.
We should realise that sometimes prevention has to start several steps before the very dangers we want to prevent. If we had good sex education in schools which talks about risks and responsibilities, we might avoid teenage pregnancies altogether.
If we counselled couples that did get pregnant and had to get married, we might be able to teach them better ways of handling conflict. As it is, many premarital courses are just another step on the way towards getting that marriage certificate.
As the Mufti of Perlis has pointed out, for all the premarital courses we’ve had, the divorce rates (among Muslims) hasn’t reduced. Perhaps if we taught young people parenting and relationship skills, and told them where they can get help, their young children may not become vulnerable to abuse.
Of course, it’s not just young parents who are the ones who abuse children but it does seem to be a common thread in recent cases that have not been remarked on.
Ultimately what will happen to these cases? The abusers will probably wind up in jail, which leaves the question of what will happen to their children.
Are they likely to abuse children who are not theirs, that they should be put away from society?
Or do we serve society better if we rehabilitate these parents, perhaps help to solve the problems that may have put unbearable pressures on them. That may include having to deal with adult abuse as well.
In order to really deal with the many social issues that we have, we need to approach things from a holistic perspective, with the understanding that they rarely occur in isolation. Factors in the environment create the dangerous scenario and then something triggers it off. We need to ascertain what those are.
Otherwise we’ll continue to shake our heads at more child tragedies.
By MARINA MAHATHIR
PETALING JAYA: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is looking into the issue of children under remand.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who visited the Kajang Prison in May, said the issue was discussed at the National Advisory and Consultative Council for Children.
The council set up a committee consisting of representatives from the ministry, the police, Attorney-General’s chambers, the Prison Department, courts and several related NGOs.
After a series of meetings, the committee came up with several proposals to be submitted to the council.
Among the proposals are making bails more affordable for parents or guardians, fast-tracking children’s cases, ensuring that children get legal aid and ensuring that remand centres for children have child-friendly facilities.
Provisions such as education, recreational activities and health would also be included in these remand centres.
Shahrizat said the policy on children was that only those charged with serious offences could be remanded in prison.
“The non-serious offenders should be remanded under the Department of Social Welfare. We are also looking at moving these children to the centre under the department,” she said.
Shahrizat was referring to the case of Jeff Lee Kwong Yong, 19, who was jailed more than six months after pleading guilty to an identity card offence. The case had been postponed five times.
.............................................................
Not the place for children
The Star Online. Opinion. Sunday August 12, 2007
There is an urgent need to set up special courts with magistrates assigned solely to cases involving children, and to expedite court hearings. The Child Act 2001 has to be enforced in spirit and not just in letter.
JEFF Lee Kwong Yong is now safely back home after being held in remand at Kajang prison for six months and seven days. With the welfare of one boy now taken care of, there are now in excess of 400 boys left to be dealt with – in Kajang prison alone.
In Malaysia, an accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, for these 400 boys, they appear to be receiving punishment even before they have been tried. This is all because – for one reason or another – bail has not been posted pending their respective trials.
Some of them, like Lee, end up spending terms that exceed the incarceration period for their offence as prescribed by law.
Lee, at 19, is not considered a child (under the Child Act 2001, a child is 18 years of age and below) but a young offender (below 21), hence his incarceration in this particular place of detention.
Notwithstanding Lee's age, a six-month incarceration may seem to be excessive punishment for a minor offence like not being able to produce an identity card, but according to the strict letter of the law, it is all by the book.
Under Section 84 of the Child Act 2001, a child must be brought before a magistrate in a Court For Children within 24 hours to determine bail.
The problem, however, arises in instances where the accused is not bailed. According to Section 86 (1) of the said Act, a child awaiting trial who has not been bailed shall be held in a “place of detention”. Kajang Prison has been gazetted as such.
The Malaysian Bar Council Criminal Law committee chairman Datuk V. Sithambaram, who was also legal counsel for Lee, says, “Most of them are being held for bailable offences but their families have not posted bail. Therefore, if they are not bailed, they inevitably end up spending time there.”
Lawyer Yapp Swee Hock, who works together with the Shelter Home for Children on certain cases, adds that many are detained on minor offences where the bail set is very low, sometimes as low as RM500. One child, for example, is still in Kajang Prison for stealing a motorcycle because his parents were not able to come up with RM1,000 for bail.
Why then are these cases not expedited so they do not spend extended time in prison? Says Sithambaram: “To be fair to the courts, there is a shortage of magistrates, interpreters and courts – all these have resulted in cases being adjourned for long periods. We have the same magistrates who sit in the Court for Children who are also handling traffic cases.”
Additionally, there are other mitigating circumstances that can lead to delays in the system.
In the case of Lee, says Sithambaram, he could not remember his IC number and refused to let his family know of his whereabouts, which contributed to his case being postponed up to six times because they were unable to verify his identity.
But he qualifies, “Everything is online, and they knew four months earlier that he was working in Kuala Lumpur, so it should not have taken six months to verify.”
Another issue is that some children who appear in the Court for Children for bail hearings do not have legal representation.
Yapp says that some are represented, but not all of them are.
“It all depends if the parents have appointed a lawyer or not. As for free Legal Aid, they would not necessarily know as the bail hearing is set soon after the charge. So if nobody knows they are being detained, nobody will take any action.”
Yapp also believes that some of the children's families cannot afford a lawyer. “If they cannot even afford the deposit for the lawyer, what more the bailable amount?”
James Nayagam, executive director of Shelter, is distressed that such situations can arise.
“They are supposed to have legal representation, but in most cases they do not. This worries me because they are just children and have to stand alone with no protection – so off they go to Kajang Prison.”
Nayagam says that sadly Kajang Prison is not the only place that has been gazetted as a “place of detention”, and there are more conducive environments where children can be held in remand, such as the Tunas Bakti boarding schools.
“Simply put, it appears the magistrates are not aware of, and not even provided with a list of options besides Kajang Prison, so they follow whatever is convenient.”
Sithambaram believes that there is a need for a revamp of the whole system. Special courts for children need to be set up that are different and separate from the normal courts, with dedicated magistrates assigned solely to take care of cases involving children, and not just deal with the problems when they crop up.
“This concerns the rights of children. One should take serious notice because if you do not, the people will lose respect for the Rule of Law. In that context, children are a major issue. The Child Act has to be enforced in spirit and not just in letter,” he adds.
Fortunately, the outlook is not all doom and gloom, and Nayagam speaks of a task force – of which he is a member – set up in March this year, the brainchild of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
The task force is headed by Datuk Shamsiah Abdul Rahman, with its members consisting of personnel from the Attorney-General's department, the Judiciary, the Police, the Social Welfare Department and the Legal Aid department.
“Our main task is to advise the minister on the well-being of children in detention and to present a fast track for court hearings. We have come up with a proposed flow chart on how to deal with such cases,” Nayagam says.
Among the issues proposed are to have parents and a social welfare officer – as a protector – present at the time of the police report, and a maximum detention period of one month or less if possible.
“Not only are we looking to reduce the number of cases, but also rehabilitation programmes at centres with proper facilities. We also need proper detention centres – it should be more like a hostel managed with the co-operation of the Prisons Department, and upon release, there should be a follow-up to the well-being of the child. We should no longer need the services of a prison.”
Nayagam adds: “I am very encouraged by the participation of the members and would like to thank them for speaking freely and being committed to dealing with the situation.”
.............................................................
Something is very wrong with us
The Star Online. Opinion. Wednesday August 15, 2007
The 2,718 male children aged 14-20 being remanded in prisons to abuse of toddlers, some resulting in death, by young parents, are indeed worrying to say the least. Yet little seems to be done to reduce or to prevent this from happening altogether.
YOUNG people are in the news again, with the recent furore about them being remanded in prison. Although it may be too late for many of them, hopefully the concern expressed by NGOs, the public and the Government will mean that no more children and young ones will be subject to prison for the smallest of offences.
However, we have to wonder why there are already 2,718 male children aged 14-20 in prisons before someone finally made a fuss. Surely it was already an injustice for the very first child to have been held in prison. Why had nobody raised the issue earlier? Surely even prison wardens must have known this was not right.
Some of these children were arrested for not having their identity cards on them. As much as this is an offence under the law, surely it should not lead to prison especially for children. Do we follow the law in automatic fashion leaving no room for humanitarian considerations?
Having now realised that there are all these children in prisons, in what way will we compensate for their loss of childhood? Prison is hardly the most conducive place for children.
Who knows what sorts of things are now wired into the minds of these unfortunate young people setting the course for their futures.
Teenage years are a particularly sensitive time and not handling them correctly can lead to later misbehaviour. How do we prevent that from happening? Or do we simply blame them later without considering our own complicity?
It seems to be a particularly Malaysian thing to not spend much effort on prevention when often it is much easier to do than to sweep up the after-effects of lack of forethought later.
Our refusal to teach young people proper sex education means that unwed pregnancies are not prevented. Even if young people get married because there is a baby on the way, what do we do to prepare them for the many responsibilities of marriage including the stresses and strains that one can expect?
If there is one thing that seems to be common among the recent cases of child abuse is how young the parents are, barely out of childhood themselves. In the recent death of a 17-month-old toddler, the mother was 18 and the father was 22. The child was the elder of their two children.
In Penang, a 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to physically and emotionally abusing his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter. Another 25-year-old man in Kota Kinabalu was accused of abusing his lover’s four-year-old son.
Perhaps when a baby ceases to be cute and becomes ever-more demanding, young parents become less patient. Perhaps they are no longer with their child’s other biological parent and feel less secure with their new boyfriend or girlfriend.
Nothing could be less attractive than a wailing child. Perhaps one day it just got too much.
We should realise that sometimes prevention has to start several steps before the very dangers we want to prevent. If we had good sex education in schools which talks about risks and responsibilities, we might avoid teenage pregnancies altogether.
If we counselled couples that did get pregnant and had to get married, we might be able to teach them better ways of handling conflict. As it is, many premarital courses are just another step on the way towards getting that marriage certificate.
As the Mufti of Perlis has pointed out, for all the premarital courses we’ve had, the divorce rates (among Muslims) hasn’t reduced. Perhaps if we taught young people parenting and relationship skills, and told them where they can get help, their young children may not become vulnerable to abuse.
Of course, it’s not just young parents who are the ones who abuse children but it does seem to be a common thread in recent cases that have not been remarked on.
Ultimately what will happen to these cases? The abusers will probably wind up in jail, which leaves the question of what will happen to their children.
Are they likely to abuse children who are not theirs, that they should be put away from society?
Or do we serve society better if we rehabilitate these parents, perhaps help to solve the problems that may have put unbearable pressures on them. That may include having to deal with adult abuse as well.
In order to really deal with the many social issues that we have, we need to approach things from a holistic perspective, with the understanding that they rarely occur in isolation. Factors in the environment create the dangerous scenario and then something triggers it off. We need to ascertain what those are.
Otherwise we’ll continue to shake our heads at more child tragedies.
By MARINA MAHATHIR
2007 08: 13-year-old babysitter found hanged
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday August 10, 2007
BATU GAJAH: A 13-year-old babysitter was found hanged from a beam in a room at her sister’s house at Kampung Muhibbah, Ara Payong here.
A relative found G. Paramesawari Bai at about 11.20am yesterday.
Paramesawari Bai, was babysitting for her 25-year-old sister M. Janagi, who works at a plastic factory at Taman Perdana here.
“I was shocked when my neighbours informed me (of the incident),” Janagi said.
“A stool was near the bed,” she said, adding that the deceased was in jovial mood in the morning.
The body was sent to Batu Gajah Hospital for a post-mortem.
Paramesawari Bai’s mother, S. Muniamah, 48, said the girl had been babysitting for Janagi for two weeks.
Muniamah, who lives at Kampung Bendera with Paramesawari Bai, said the girl was an obedient and helpful person.
Police have ruled out foul play.
BATU GAJAH: A 13-year-old babysitter was found hanged from a beam in a room at her sister’s house at Kampung Muhibbah, Ara Payong here.
A relative found G. Paramesawari Bai at about 11.20am yesterday.
Paramesawari Bai, was babysitting for her 25-year-old sister M. Janagi, who works at a plastic factory at Taman Perdana here.
“I was shocked when my neighbours informed me (of the incident),” Janagi said.
“A stool was near the bed,” she said, adding that the deceased was in jovial mood in the morning.
The body was sent to Batu Gajah Hospital for a post-mortem.
Paramesawari Bai’s mother, S. Muniamah, 48, said the girl had been babysitting for Janagi for two weeks.
Muniamah, who lives at Kampung Bendera with Paramesawari Bai, said the girl was an obedient and helpful person.
Police have ruled out foul play.
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.
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.
Thursday 9 August 2007
2007 08: Two students quizzed about fire in school
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 8, 2007
BANTING: Two Form One students allegedly set fire to a wooden rack at the SMK Methodist Telok Datok in what is believed to be a case of revenge.
They are believed to have retaliated against the school’s afternoon session supervisor who had punished them earlier.
Teachers who had gathered for an assembly noticed thick smoke billowing from the room on the first floor of the school’s main block.
They rushed there and doused the flames.
A report was lodged and police picked up two boys, aged 12 and 13, for questioning but released them on bail pending investigations.
It is learnt that the two had approached a fellow student and asked him if he would like to join them in setting the room on fire but the latter laughed it off thinking that they were only joking.
The two students were spotted entering the school compound with a bottle believed to be filled with petrol.
Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mohamed, who confirmed the arrest, said police had classified the case under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage.
BANTING: Two Form One students allegedly set fire to a wooden rack at the SMK Methodist Telok Datok in what is believed to be a case of revenge.
They are believed to have retaliated against the school’s afternoon session supervisor who had punished them earlier.
Teachers who had gathered for an assembly noticed thick smoke billowing from the room on the first floor of the school’s main block.
They rushed there and doused the flames.
A report was lodged and police picked up two boys, aged 12 and 13, for questioning but released them on bail pending investigations.
It is learnt that the two had approached a fellow student and asked him if he would like to join them in setting the room on fire but the latter laughed it off thinking that they were only joking.
The two students were spotted entering the school compound with a bottle believed to be filled with petrol.
Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mohamed, who confirmed the arrest, said police had classified the case under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage.
2007 08: School says sorry for caning that left bruises
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 6, 2007
SUNGAI Petani's SMK Sin Min issued a statement to apologise to parents after two disciplinary teachers caned 30 students for flouting rules and bruised some students' buttocks, China Press reported.
The bruising led to upset parents demanding an explanation from the school.
The case, which was reported in Chinese newspapers, received public attention and many versions of the incident were circulated among the Chinese community, causing hurt to teachers and students, the paper quoted the statement.
School authorities, after chairing a meeting with the school's board of directors and the parent-teacher association on Friday, said it regretted the incident and apologised to the parents.
It also said caning students who had flouted disciplinary rules was one of the approaches used by the school for many years to discipline students.
SMK Sin Min principal Lok Kin Hong said that to avoid a recurrence of such an incident, students who are to be caned more than once would not receive the canings on the same day.
On Wednesday, 30 Form One students were caned for not submitting their homework, talking in the class and attending classes without textbooks.
Three of them suffered bruises and their parents confronted the school over the incident.
SUNGAI Petani's SMK Sin Min issued a statement to apologise to parents after two disciplinary teachers caned 30 students for flouting rules and bruised some students' buttocks, China Press reported.
The bruising led to upset parents demanding an explanation from the school.
The case, which was reported in Chinese newspapers, received public attention and many versions of the incident were circulated among the Chinese community, causing hurt to teachers and students, the paper quoted the statement.
School authorities, after chairing a meeting with the school's board of directors and the parent-teacher association on Friday, said it regretted the incident and apologised to the parents.
It also said caning students who had flouted disciplinary rules was one of the approaches used by the school for many years to discipline students.
SMK Sin Min principal Lok Kin Hong said that to avoid a recurrence of such an incident, students who are to be caned more than once would not receive the canings on the same day.
On Wednesday, 30 Form One students were caned for not submitting their homework, talking in the class and attending classes without textbooks.
Three of them suffered bruises and their parents confronted the school over the incident.
2007 08: Youths languishing in prison for minor offences
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday August 5, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old youth from Sabah has been languishing in prison for six months because his single mother is unable to post the court bail of RM1,000.
For his offence of not carrying his MyKad, Jeff Lee Kwong Yeung faces a fine of between RM3,000 and RM20,000 but his case has been postponed several times since he was first charged in court on Feb 5.
To complicate matters, the MyKad number Jeff gave was found to belong to someone else and his fingerprints are being verified to ascertain his identity ahead of his next court hearing on Aug 24.
Jeff, who is being remanded in Kajang Prison, is but one of the 2,718 male juveniles aged 14-20 who are at the Kajang, Sungai Buloh and Simpang Renggam jails as of May.
Many are there for petty crimes, including peddling illegal software, traffic offences and stealing handphones.
Some are also there for serious crimes such as murder, rape, assault and robbery.
James Nayagam, the executive director of Shelter Homes feels that courts need to be informed that youths with petty offences could be detained in Tunas Bakti boarding schools or other boarding schools and not necessarily in prison.
“Very often, the parents cannot afford to post bail and the detention period depends on how soon the courts can dispose of their case,” said James.
Even when they are released, the juveniles suffer all their lives as there is a social stigma attached to having been in prison, he added.
He also questioned the rationale of placing juveniles who commit minor offences together with those who commit serious ones.
“It is like placing them in a lion’s den,” he said during the recent Sixth National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect here.
If youths are detained in prison for serious offences, there has to be a timeframe for their cases to be heard, he added.
The period of detention should be no longer than the jail sentence itself, unlike the case of a 16-year-old boy who was detained for six months for selling illegal DVDs when the jail sentence was only three months.
James started working with juveniles in Kajang Prison three years ago and there were 350 juveniles there then. Today, the number has swelled to 650 juveniles.
The youngest prisoner James has come across was an eight-year-old. There are three categories of remanded juveniles – those remanded under the pleasure of the ruler, those convicted for other crimes and those awaiting trial. Adult prisoners, however, are separated from juveniles.
A matter of concern is the fact that some juveniles have been in jail for a long time while waiting to be tried in court.
“Cases have been postponed for six months just because someone didn’t turn up in court. Meanwhile, the youths are being exposed to other criminals,” said James.
Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said it all boiled down to the issue of backlogged cases, and called on affected parents to inform the council so they could push for reform.
.............................................................
Youth detained for not producing MyKad free at last
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old youth who had been languishing in Kajang Prison for six months and seven days for failing to produce his MyKad to the police for inspection was freed today.
Jeff Lee Kwong Yong had pleaded guilty in a magistrate's court here on Feb 5 to the offence but the sentencing was set for May 16 pending statement of facts. The case was postponed another five times for various other reasons, including mismatch of his MyKad number, unavailability of a probation report and a fingerprints report on him.
Lee, from Sabah, was finally handed his sentence today, with magistrate Tasnim Abu Bakar imposing a jail term of six months and seven days for the offence under the National Registration Regulations 1990. She ordered his jail term to run from the date of arrest on Jan 31.
The case was originally slotted for Aug 24 but was brought forward after the Bar Council, through its Criminal Law committee chairman Datuk V. Sithambaram, requested for an earlier date.
This followed a front-page report by The Star on Aug 5, highlighting Lee's plight. He was reported to be one of 2,718 male juveniles aged 14-20 who are at the Kajang, Sungai Buloh and Simpang Renggam jails as of May.
Yesterday Sithambaram questioned the many delays saying that it was unfortunate for his client to be detained for such a period for a minor offence.
He said his client lost his wallet together with his MyKad a day before his arrest and had wanted to lodge a police report over the matter before he was arrested.
He said he forgot the exact number of his MyKad adding that the police should have checked his particulars from his former employer.
Sithambaram said the move gave the police force and judiciary a bad name.
Sithambaram said the Bar Council was grateful to the court for bringing the case forward in view of public interest and fair justice.
Lee, who is a former cook, was charged with failing to show his MyKad to policewoman Seri Ariani Mahmud for inspection at Jalan Sultan here at 3pm on Jan 31.
KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old youth from Sabah has been languishing in prison for six months because his single mother is unable to post the court bail of RM1,000.
For his offence of not carrying his MyKad, Jeff Lee Kwong Yeung faces a fine of between RM3,000 and RM20,000 but his case has been postponed several times since he was first charged in court on Feb 5.
To complicate matters, the MyKad number Jeff gave was found to belong to someone else and his fingerprints are being verified to ascertain his identity ahead of his next court hearing on Aug 24.
Jeff, who is being remanded in Kajang Prison, is but one of the 2,718 male juveniles aged 14-20 who are at the Kajang, Sungai Buloh and Simpang Renggam jails as of May.
Many are there for petty crimes, including peddling illegal software, traffic offences and stealing handphones.
Some are also there for serious crimes such as murder, rape, assault and robbery.
James Nayagam, the executive director of Shelter Homes feels that courts need to be informed that youths with petty offences could be detained in Tunas Bakti boarding schools or other boarding schools and not necessarily in prison.
“Very often, the parents cannot afford to post bail and the detention period depends on how soon the courts can dispose of their case,” said James.
Even when they are released, the juveniles suffer all their lives as there is a social stigma attached to having been in prison, he added.
He also questioned the rationale of placing juveniles who commit minor offences together with those who commit serious ones.
“It is like placing them in a lion’s den,” he said during the recent Sixth National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect here.
If youths are detained in prison for serious offences, there has to be a timeframe for their cases to be heard, he added.
The period of detention should be no longer than the jail sentence itself, unlike the case of a 16-year-old boy who was detained for six months for selling illegal DVDs when the jail sentence was only three months.
James started working with juveniles in Kajang Prison three years ago and there were 350 juveniles there then. Today, the number has swelled to 650 juveniles.
The youngest prisoner James has come across was an eight-year-old. There are three categories of remanded juveniles – those remanded under the pleasure of the ruler, those convicted for other crimes and those awaiting trial. Adult prisoners, however, are separated from juveniles.
A matter of concern is the fact that some juveniles have been in jail for a long time while waiting to be tried in court.
“Cases have been postponed for six months just because someone didn’t turn up in court. Meanwhile, the youths are being exposed to other criminals,” said James.
Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said it all boiled down to the issue of backlogged cases, and called on affected parents to inform the council so they could push for reform.
.............................................................
Youth detained for not producing MyKad free at last
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old youth who had been languishing in Kajang Prison for six months and seven days for failing to produce his MyKad to the police for inspection was freed today.
Jeff Lee Kwong Yong had pleaded guilty in a magistrate's court here on Feb 5 to the offence but the sentencing was set for May 16 pending statement of facts. The case was postponed another five times for various other reasons, including mismatch of his MyKad number, unavailability of a probation report and a fingerprints report on him.
Lee, from Sabah, was finally handed his sentence today, with magistrate Tasnim Abu Bakar imposing a jail term of six months and seven days for the offence under the National Registration Regulations 1990. She ordered his jail term to run from the date of arrest on Jan 31.
The case was originally slotted for Aug 24 but was brought forward after the Bar Council, through its Criminal Law committee chairman Datuk V. Sithambaram, requested for an earlier date.
This followed a front-page report by The Star on Aug 5, highlighting Lee's plight. He was reported to be one of 2,718 male juveniles aged 14-20 who are at the Kajang, Sungai Buloh and Simpang Renggam jails as of May.
Yesterday Sithambaram questioned the many delays saying that it was unfortunate for his client to be detained for such a period for a minor offence.
He said his client lost his wallet together with his MyKad a day before his arrest and had wanted to lodge a police report over the matter before he was arrested.
He said he forgot the exact number of his MyKad adding that the police should have checked his particulars from his former employer.
Sithambaram said the move gave the police force and judiciary a bad name.
Sithambaram said the Bar Council was grateful to the court for bringing the case forward in view of public interest and fair justice.
Lee, who is a former cook, was charged with failing to show his MyKad to policewoman Seri Ariani Mahmud for inspection at Jalan Sultan here at 3pm on Jan 31.
Monday 6 August 2007
2007 08: Mum held after teacher spots bruises on pupil’s back
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
JOHOR BARU: A teacher who spotted bruises on the back of one of her 11-year-old pupils lodged a report alleging that the boy had been abused.
The boy’s mother, who is in her 30s, has been detained for suspected child abuse.
Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said the mother was picked up from her home in Kulai on Thursday.
“We have questioned the boy's mother as there were bruises on the boy's back. We have since released her on bail,” he said.
JOHOR BARU: A teacher who spotted bruises on the back of one of her 11-year-old pupils lodged a report alleging that the boy had been abused.
The boy’s mother, who is in her 30s, has been detained for suspected child abuse.
Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said the mother was picked up from her home in Kulai on Thursday.
“We have questioned the boy's mother as there were bruises on the boy's back. We have since released her on bail,” he said.
2007 08: 12yr-old among 6 youths arrested for gang-rape
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
JOHOR BARU: A 12-year-old school dropout was among six teenagers detained for allegedly abducting and gang-raping a factory worker here.
He and the five other suspects, aged 16 to 19, were picked up in a series of raids soon after the incident occurred at about 11.40pm on Friday.
The 30-year-old victim and a 24-year-old female friend were riding home on a scooter in Taman Nusa Damai, Pasir Gudang Friday night, when a lorry is believed to have overtaken them before forcing their off the road.
The suspects grabbed the victim when she fell off the scooter, bundled her into their lorry and drove off, leaving her friend behind.
The victim was later brought to a secluded area in Pasir Gudang before being gang raped.
The victim’s friend managed to alert the Sri Alam police.
A police task force was immediately set up headed by Sri Alam CID Chief Deputy Supt Mohd Nor Rasid and officers from the state police headquarters.
Combing the surrounding housing estates, they managed to locate the lorry in Taman Nusa Damai and rescued the woman eight hours after her abduction.
However upon seeing the police car, the suspects managed to flee.
Police rushed the victim to the hospital and started their hunt for the suspects, who were picked up in a series of raids around Kota Masai.
State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the suspects would be remanded on Sunday.
He said they were being investigated under Sections 376 and 365 of the Penal Code for rape and abduction.
They have been sent to the hospital to have their urine and blood tested for drugs and alcohol.
JOHOR BARU: A 12-year-old school dropout was among six teenagers detained for allegedly abducting and gang-raping a factory worker here.
He and the five other suspects, aged 16 to 19, were picked up in a series of raids soon after the incident occurred at about 11.40pm on Friday.
The 30-year-old victim and a 24-year-old female friend were riding home on a scooter in Taman Nusa Damai, Pasir Gudang Friday night, when a lorry is believed to have overtaken them before forcing their off the road.
The suspects grabbed the victim when she fell off the scooter, bundled her into their lorry and drove off, leaving her friend behind.
The victim was later brought to a secluded area in Pasir Gudang before being gang raped.
The victim’s friend managed to alert the Sri Alam police.
A police task force was immediately set up headed by Sri Alam CID Chief Deputy Supt Mohd Nor Rasid and officers from the state police headquarters.
Combing the surrounding housing estates, they managed to locate the lorry in Taman Nusa Damai and rescued the woman eight hours after her abduction.
However upon seeing the police car, the suspects managed to flee.
Police rushed the victim to the hospital and started their hunt for the suspects, who were picked up in a series of raids around Kota Masai.
State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the suspects would be remanded on Sunday.
He said they were being investigated under Sections 376 and 365 of the Penal Code for rape and abduction.
They have been sent to the hospital to have their urine and blood tested for drugs and alcohol.
2007 08: Sex romps when parents are away
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday August 3, 2007
FIVE schoolgirls and several boys held no-holds-barred sex romps when their parents were not at home, Harian Metro reported.
The girls, aged 13 to 17, allegedly gave their bodies willingly to the boys, who grouped under the names “Geng Apache,” “Pangkah Shell” and “Budak Shell,” the tabloid said.
The boys favoured these girls from three schools in Putrajaya over others because they are said to be promiscuous and need not be “forced” into having sex.
Sources told the paper that the girls were so daring that they carried out their exploits at either their or the boys' homes after school and when the parents were not at home.
However, their illicit activities were exposed after 25 schoolboys were caught smoking and sniffing glue in two houses at Precincts 9 and 11, Putrajaya.
Several of the boys confessed that they had had sex with the girls over the past few months without any of their families knowing about it.
Sources said no action had so far been taken against either the boys or the girls, because no police report has been made.
FIVE schoolgirls and several boys held no-holds-barred sex romps when their parents were not at home, Harian Metro reported.
The girls, aged 13 to 17, allegedly gave their bodies willingly to the boys, who grouped under the names “Geng Apache,” “Pangkah Shell” and “Budak Shell,” the tabloid said.
The boys favoured these girls from three schools in Putrajaya over others because they are said to be promiscuous and need not be “forced” into having sex.
Sources told the paper that the girls were so daring that they carried out their exploits at either their or the boys' homes after school and when the parents were not at home.
However, their illicit activities were exposed after 25 schoolboys were caught smoking and sniffing glue in two houses at Precincts 9 and 11, Putrajaya.
Several of the boys confessed that they had had sex with the girls over the past few months without any of their families knowing about it.
Sources said no action had so far been taken against either the boys or the girls, because no police report has been made.
2007 08: Tuition teacher nabbed in connection with alleged rape of pupil
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday August 2, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: A tuition teacher, with two wives, was arrested in connection with the alleged rape of his 11-year-old pupil at Pulau Gaya off the city here.
Kota Kinabalu deputy police chief Supt Rowell Marong said the 42-year-old suspect was nabbed by the girl’s cousin on the island on Tuesday and handed over to the police who have since detained the teacher for investigations.
The suspect is alleged to have lured the girl to his house for extra class and allegedly raped her in his house in Kg Pondo around 8pm on Friday.
The girl complained to her grandmother about the incident and her elder cousin then took the girl to lodge a police report.
KOTA KINABALU: A tuition teacher, with two wives, was arrested in connection with the alleged rape of his 11-year-old pupil at Pulau Gaya off the city here.
Kota Kinabalu deputy police chief Supt Rowell Marong said the 42-year-old suspect was nabbed by the girl’s cousin on the island on Tuesday and handed over to the police who have since detained the teacher for investigations.
The suspect is alleged to have lured the girl to his house for extra class and allegedly raped her in his house in Kg Pondo around 8pm on Friday.
The girl complained to her grandmother about the incident and her elder cousin then took the girl to lodge a police report.
2007 08: Victim of bullying slashes classmate
The Star online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 1, 2007
SHAH ALAM: A Form Two boy of SMK Section 24/2 here slashed his classmate in the back in an alleged retaliation to constant bullying.
It is understood that the suspect had hidden a folding knife in his school bag and had waited in the classroom until recess at about 10am before attacking the alleged bully. Both are 14.
A classmate, who came to the aid of the victim, was injured near his ear when the suspect turned on him, too.
The victims were sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, where they were given outpatient treatment.
The school's discipline teacher has lodged a police report. Police have recovered the knife that was allegedly used in the attacks.
It is learnt that the first victim suffered a 3cm long cut in his back.
Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Noor Azam Jamaludin, said the suspect had been picked up for questioning.
“The boy is underage so we also called the parents to the police station,” he said, adding that the boy was expected to be released soon.
SHAH ALAM: A Form Two boy of SMK Section 24/2 here slashed his classmate in the back in an alleged retaliation to constant bullying.
It is understood that the suspect had hidden a folding knife in his school bag and had waited in the classroom until recess at about 10am before attacking the alleged bully. Both are 14.
A classmate, who came to the aid of the victim, was injured near his ear when the suspect turned on him, too.
The victims were sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang, where they were given outpatient treatment.
The school's discipline teacher has lodged a police report. Police have recovered the knife that was allegedly used in the attacks.
It is learnt that the first victim suffered a 3cm long cut in his back.
Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Noor Azam Jamaludin, said the suspect had been picked up for questioning.
“The boy is underage so we also called the parents to the police station,” he said, adding that the boy was expected to be released soon.
2007 08: Molest victim still in a trauma
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 1, 2007
ALOR STAR: The teacher involved in an alleged molest case last week has been temporarily transferred to a district education office. But the 16-year-old victim is still too traumatised to return to school.
The victim had to undergo medical counselling because she turns hysterical whenever she sees men.
A psychiatrist from the Alor Star Hospital had given her medical leave until tomorrow.
The girl had initially sought treatment at the Jitra Hospital, but her case was referred to Alor Star Hospital because the doctor felt she needed specialist attention.
The victim also dreads returning to school because of taunts by teachers who supported the alleged perpetrator.
“My friends told me the teachers are saying things about me. They also defended the bad person,” she said when met yesterday.
The victim was also too afraid to sleep because the alleged perpetrator kept appearing in her nightmares, she said.
The victim’s sister said they had to take the girl for medical counselling on Sunday.
The doctor also prescribed sleeping pills.
“We are giving her all our support at home. But she fears stepping out of the house. The sight of men makes her scream. She is so traumatised,” said the 22-year-old sister.
The victim lodged a police report last Wednesday, claiming that the teacher had molested her in a small room inside the art room at school.
She claimed that the teacher gave her RM15 after caressing her cheek, breasts and thigh.
Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Mohd Karim Abu confirmed that a report had been lodged.
ALOR STAR: The teacher involved in an alleged molest case last week has been temporarily transferred to a district education office. But the 16-year-old victim is still too traumatised to return to school.
The victim had to undergo medical counselling because she turns hysterical whenever she sees men.
A psychiatrist from the Alor Star Hospital had given her medical leave until tomorrow.
The girl had initially sought treatment at the Jitra Hospital, but her case was referred to Alor Star Hospital because the doctor felt she needed specialist attention.
The victim also dreads returning to school because of taunts by teachers who supported the alleged perpetrator.
“My friends told me the teachers are saying things about me. They also defended the bad person,” she said when met yesterday.
The victim was also too afraid to sleep because the alleged perpetrator kept appearing in her nightmares, she said.
The victim’s sister said they had to take the girl for medical counselling on Sunday.
The doctor also prescribed sleeping pills.
“We are giving her all our support at home. But she fears stepping out of the house. The sight of men makes her scream. She is so traumatised,” said the 22-year-old sister.
The victim lodged a police report last Wednesday, claiming that the teacher had molested her in a small room inside the art room at school.
She claimed that the teacher gave her RM15 after caressing her cheek, breasts and thigh.
Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Mohd Karim Abu confirmed that a report had been lodged.
2007 08: Mechanic charged with raping underaged girlfriend
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 1, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: A mechanic claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to raping his girlfriend two years ago.
Norfazli Amberan, 19, was accused of raping the underaged girl at Taman Batu Muda in Sentul between 1am and 5.30am in the middle of May 2005.
The 14-year-old girl had lodged a police report against him about a month later – on July 13, 2005.
The teenager was arrested for the alleged rape on Nov 29, 2005 and subsequently based on an order dated Dec 6, 2005, he was released on a police bail.
The police later recorded his statements over the matter. On April 19 this year, the police had obtained instructions from the Attorney-General Chambers to charge him for the alleged rape.
DPP Rozaliana Zakaria has asked the court to deny bail to the accused saying that the offence was serious and that the prosecution was concerned that he would "disturb" their witnesses.
Norfazli, however, pleaded for lower bail. Judge Datin Anita Harun granted granted his bail at RM15,000 in one surety and set Sept 17 for mention, pending the appointment of a lawyer for Norfazli.
KUALA LUMPUR: A mechanic claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to raping his girlfriend two years ago.
Norfazli Amberan, 19, was accused of raping the underaged girl at Taman Batu Muda in Sentul between 1am and 5.30am in the middle of May 2005.
The 14-year-old girl had lodged a police report against him about a month later – on July 13, 2005.
The teenager was arrested for the alleged rape on Nov 29, 2005 and subsequently based on an order dated Dec 6, 2005, he was released on a police bail.
The police later recorded his statements over the matter. On April 19 this year, the police had obtained instructions from the Attorney-General Chambers to charge him for the alleged rape.
DPP Rozaliana Zakaria has asked the court to deny bail to the accused saying that the offence was serious and that the prosecution was concerned that he would "disturb" their witnesses.
Norfazli, however, pleaded for lower bail. Judge Datin Anita Harun granted granted his bail at RM15,000 in one surety and set Sept 17 for mention, pending the appointment of a lawyer for Norfazli.
2007 08: Shocking: Rape, robbery, abduction, extortion
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 1, 2007
SHAH ALAM: Two electricians claimed trial at two Sessions Courts here on Wednesday to multiple charges involving rape, outraging the modesty of a child, robbery, abduction and extortion.
Two girls, aged 17 and 12, and a 46-year-old man were the alleged victims of the crimes that purportedly took place on Feb 17, 2006.
R. Shasidaran, 23, and S. Kalidas, 19, were charged with raping the elder girl in a Perodua Kancil at Bukit Pencawang Letrik, Batu 11, Kampung Desa Aman in Sungai Buloh at between 5.40am and 6.40am on that day.
Each of the accused appeared in separate courts for the charge.
In one of the courts, Shasidaran was also accused of using criminal force against the younger girl, with intent to outrage her modesty in the same car and at the same place and time.
Shasidaran pleaded not guilty and appealed for a bail before Judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof.
In the other court, Shasidaran and Kalidas were charged with robbing the 46-year-old man with a parang and taking away from him RM140 and a wallet at the Rahman Putra industrial area in Sungai Buloh at between 5.30am and 7am on Feb 17, 2006.
The two were also charged with abducting the girls at the same place on that day.
Shasidaran and Kalidas are also accused of extorting RM1,000 from the father of one of the girls at Jalan Sebelah Kolam Pancing Ikan in Kampung Desa Aman, on the same day.
All the charges would be jointly mentioned on Aug 16.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Hana Hadinah S. Mohd Ghazali said bail should not be allowed to the two accused because of the many crimes and serious crimes they were involved in.
She said the two girls were travelling to school in the car with their 46-year-old guardian man, when the two accused stopped the car.
“They forced open the car, robbed, and drove away with the two girls.
“They also extort one of the girls’ father on the same day,” she said.
The DPP said the two accused had been charged in a Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for robbing and raping a 31-year-old woman and were denied bail.
Kalidas has an additional charge of forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him and another charge in the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court for a drug-related case.
DPP Hana Hadinah said Kalidas also has a robbery case pending at the Selayang magistrate’s court.
SHAH ALAM: Two electricians claimed trial at two Sessions Courts here on Wednesday to multiple charges involving rape, outraging the modesty of a child, robbery, abduction and extortion.
Two girls, aged 17 and 12, and a 46-year-old man were the alleged victims of the crimes that purportedly took place on Feb 17, 2006.
R. Shasidaran, 23, and S. Kalidas, 19, were charged with raping the elder girl in a Perodua Kancil at Bukit Pencawang Letrik, Batu 11, Kampung Desa Aman in Sungai Buloh at between 5.40am and 6.40am on that day.
Each of the accused appeared in separate courts for the charge.
In one of the courts, Shasidaran was also accused of using criminal force against the younger girl, with intent to outrage her modesty in the same car and at the same place and time.
Shasidaran pleaded not guilty and appealed for a bail before Judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof.
In the other court, Shasidaran and Kalidas were charged with robbing the 46-year-old man with a parang and taking away from him RM140 and a wallet at the Rahman Putra industrial area in Sungai Buloh at between 5.30am and 7am on Feb 17, 2006.
The two were also charged with abducting the girls at the same place on that day.
Shasidaran and Kalidas are also accused of extorting RM1,000 from the father of one of the girls at Jalan Sebelah Kolam Pancing Ikan in Kampung Desa Aman, on the same day.
All the charges would be jointly mentioned on Aug 16.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Hana Hadinah S. Mohd Ghazali said bail should not be allowed to the two accused because of the many crimes and serious crimes they were involved in.
She said the two girls were travelling to school in the car with their 46-year-old guardian man, when the two accused stopped the car.
“They forced open the car, robbed, and drove away with the two girls.
“They also extort one of the girls’ father on the same day,” she said.
The DPP said the two accused had been charged in a Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for robbing and raping a 31-year-old woman and were denied bail.
Kalidas has an additional charge of forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him and another charge in the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court for a drug-related case.
DPP Hana Hadinah said Kalidas also has a robbery case pending at the Selayang magistrate’s court.
Friday 3 August 2007
2007 08: Schoolgirl slapping clip shown on YouTube
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
CHINA Press reported a YouTube clip showing a bully slapping a schoolgirl for reporting about truancy.
The incident took place in a vacant classroom in Ipoh.
The bully was heard asking the girl if the slap was hard enough.
The bully warned the girl that those who had skipped classes were her “people” and not to report the matter to the school.
The girl, who was silent, was seen weeping in the empty classroom which was guarded by two other girls.
Youtube stated that more than 1,800 people had viewed the footage since July 29, with many criticising the bully.
CHINA Press reported a YouTube clip showing a bully slapping a schoolgirl for reporting about truancy.
The incident took place in a vacant classroom in Ipoh.
The bully was heard asking the girl if the slap was hard enough.
The bully warned the girl that those who had skipped classes were her “people” and not to report the matter to the school.
The girl, who was silent, was seen weeping in the empty classroom which was guarded by two other girls.
Youtube stated that more than 1,800 people had viewed the footage since July 29, with many criticising the bully.
2007 08: Beaten up, stripped and photographed
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
NINE secondary schoolgirls beat up their schoolmate mafia-style and took nude photographs of her after cornering her as she was on her way to a friend’s house, Harian Metro reported.
The daily reported on its front page that one of the girls and her friends approached the 16-year-old victim, demanding to know if she had called her gemuk (fat) behind her back, in Muadzam Shah, Rompin.
The victim repeatedly denied the accusation but the nine girls, not satisfied with her reply, beat her up and slapped her before stripping her naked, the daily reported.
The assailants then used a mobile phone to take pictures of the nude victim as she lay crying on the roadside.
After her attackers left, the victim returned home and related the incident to her family, who then took her to lodge a police report.
The victim received treatment at the Muadzam Shah Hospital for bruises. Police have detained the nine girls.
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Nine apologise to schoolmate
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
MUADZAM SHAH (Pahang): Nine female students from SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak here, who were involved in assaulting and taking nude photographs of their schoolmate last Friday have apologised to the 16-year-old victim.
The nine Form Four students cried as they asked for their friend’s forgiveness, accompanied by their mothers at a special gathering at the school yesterday.
Pahang education director Abdul Aziz Abdul Latiff said the case had ended harmoniously after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar sent his special officer Shashim Shah Harun to help resolve the matter. – Bernama
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Bullying among girls getting more rampant
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
I REFER to the report ‘Nine apologise to classmate” (The Star, Aug 4) regarding the case of nine girls of SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak, who bullied their classmate.
These girls at least had the courage to admit their wrongdoing, but what they did was a disgrace not just to their alma mater but also to their fellow classmates and their families.
This is a classic case of girls behaving badly or should I say “Mean Girls” in real life.
Many people assume that boys only bully but then again this is no longer true. Female students are as capable as their male counterparts in bullying their peers, and the damage they leave is very serious and sometimes for life.
Bullying among female students not only come in the form of physical abuse but also usually come in more subtle forms such as emotional and psychological abuse through telling lies, spreading rumours, playing mind games, hurling insults, social exclusion, and even making degrading remarks about the victim either face-to-face or behind her back to destroy the victim’s self esteem.
Bullying among girls is becoming rampant in many societies and it is a fact that must be taken into consideration.
Girls who think that bullying make them superior to their peers are the ones with the problem, not the victims.
Studies have shown that female bullies resort to bullying not only due to insecurity problems but also due to problems at home. Research shows female bullies are likely to end up continuing to bully into adulthood whether at home, within their social circle or at the workplace unless their bad behaviour is curbed as early as possible.
If we want to reduce the growing incidences of bullying among female students, families, school staff and communities need to work together in combating the problem.
Moreover, these bullies need to undergo counselling and therapy, just like their victim, so that they will not repeat their bad behaviour in the future.
NINE secondary schoolgirls beat up their schoolmate mafia-style and took nude photographs of her after cornering her as she was on her way to a friend’s house, Harian Metro reported.
The daily reported on its front page that one of the girls and her friends approached the 16-year-old victim, demanding to know if she had called her gemuk (fat) behind her back, in Muadzam Shah, Rompin.
The victim repeatedly denied the accusation but the nine girls, not satisfied with her reply, beat her up and slapped her before stripping her naked, the daily reported.
The assailants then used a mobile phone to take pictures of the nude victim as she lay crying on the roadside.
After her attackers left, the victim returned home and related the incident to her family, who then took her to lodge a police report.
The victim received treatment at the Muadzam Shah Hospital for bruises. Police have detained the nine girls.
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Nine apologise to schoolmate
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
MUADZAM SHAH (Pahang): Nine female students from SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak here, who were involved in assaulting and taking nude photographs of their schoolmate last Friday have apologised to the 16-year-old victim.
The nine Form Four students cried as they asked for their friend’s forgiveness, accompanied by their mothers at a special gathering at the school yesterday.
Pahang education director Abdul Aziz Abdul Latiff said the case had ended harmoniously after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar sent his special officer Shashim Shah Harun to help resolve the matter. – Bernama
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Bullying among girls getting more rampant
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
I REFER to the report ‘Nine apologise to classmate” (The Star, Aug 4) regarding the case of nine girls of SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak, who bullied their classmate.
These girls at least had the courage to admit their wrongdoing, but what they did was a disgrace not just to their alma mater but also to their fellow classmates and their families.
This is a classic case of girls behaving badly or should I say “Mean Girls” in real life.
Many people assume that boys only bully but then again this is no longer true. Female students are as capable as their male counterparts in bullying their peers, and the damage they leave is very serious and sometimes for life.
Bullying among female students not only come in the form of physical abuse but also usually come in more subtle forms such as emotional and psychological abuse through telling lies, spreading rumours, playing mind games, hurling insults, social exclusion, and even making degrading remarks about the victim either face-to-face or behind her back to destroy the victim’s self esteem.
Bullying among girls is becoming rampant in many societies and it is a fact that must be taken into consideration.
Girls who think that bullying make them superior to their peers are the ones with the problem, not the victims.
Studies have shown that female bullies resort to bullying not only due to insecurity problems but also due to problems at home. Research shows female bullies are likely to end up continuing to bully into adulthood whether at home, within their social circle or at the workplace unless their bad behaviour is curbed as early as possible.
If we want to reduce the growing incidences of bullying among female students, families, school staff and communities need to work together in combating the problem.
Moreover, these bullies need to undergo counselling and therapy, just like their victim, so that they will not repeat their bad behaviour in the future.
2007 08: Boy freed before ransom collection, two nabbed
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
JOHOR BARU: In another case of bungling kidnappers, the abductors of a six-year-old boy released him before collecting a RM3,000 ransom here.
The boy was found wandering in Skudai hours before his family was to drop the money at a location on July 16.
Police arrested two suspects, in their 20s, one of whom was picked up in Singapore last week.
In the earlier case on July 18, a group of kidnappers released a 16-year-old schoolboy in Sungai Petani before their accomplices could pick up a RM50,000 ransom in Penang.
In the Skudai incident, it is learnt that the boy’s grandfather was sending his two grandsons to kindergarten when a car bumped into his motorcycle at 7am.
They fell and three people came out of the car and bundled one of the boys into their car and drove off.
Several hours later, the boy’s father, who works in the shipping sector in Singapore, received a call asking for RM300,000 and not to report to the police.
But the parents, who informed the police, managed to reduce the amount to RM3,000, which was to be dropped off at an undisclosed location in Skudai.
Hours before the money was to be placed at the agreed location, the family got a call that police had found the boy wondering alone in the district. The kidnappers failed to show up at the drop-off point.
Police arrested the first suspect in Woodlands, Singapore, with the help of police there last week. The other suspect was picked up in Skudai.
A senior police officer said they were looking for another suspect.
JOHOR BARU: In another case of bungling kidnappers, the abductors of a six-year-old boy released him before collecting a RM3,000 ransom here.
The boy was found wandering in Skudai hours before his family was to drop the money at a location on July 16.
Police arrested two suspects, in their 20s, one of whom was picked up in Singapore last week.
In the earlier case on July 18, a group of kidnappers released a 16-year-old schoolboy in Sungai Petani before their accomplices could pick up a RM50,000 ransom in Penang.
In the Skudai incident, it is learnt that the boy’s grandfather was sending his two grandsons to kindergarten when a car bumped into his motorcycle at 7am.
They fell and three people came out of the car and bundled one of the boys into their car and drove off.
Several hours later, the boy’s father, who works in the shipping sector in Singapore, received a call asking for RM300,000 and not to report to the police.
But the parents, who informed the police, managed to reduce the amount to RM3,000, which was to be dropped off at an undisclosed location in Skudai.
Hours before the money was to be placed at the agreed location, the family got a call that police had found the boy wondering alone in the district. The kidnappers failed to show up at the drop-off point.
Police arrested the first suspect in Woodlands, Singapore, with the help of police there last week. The other suspect was picked up in Skudai.
A senior police officer said they were looking for another suspect.
2007 08: EDITORIAL: Uncovering child abuse
NST Online. Columns. 29/7/07
THE shock and horror over the rise in child abuse almost everywhere have less to do with the fact that it happens at all but where and by whom.
In Ireland and the United States, offences against children were sensationally found to be endemic in church-run facilities, committed by men of the cloth. In the siege of the Lal Masjid in Islamabad earlier this month, many of the human shields suborned by the mad mullah Abdul Rashid Ghazi in his standoff against the Pakistan military were boys and girls. A recent study by Unicef and the Indian government adjudged two out of three children to be abused, giving the lie to the families and communities that were thought of as their guardians. In Malaysia, the worst offenders are not the dirty old men bearing sweets and trinkets, but mothers and fathers as seemingly ordinary as the ones next door.
Violence in the home is difficult to winkle out, shrouded as it usually is in a conspiracy of silence between perpetrator and victim, and sometimes abetted by a society that prefers not to know. The "don’t ask, don’t tell" syndrome constrains even the government’s willingness to intervene. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s first reaction to the latest alleged baby beating case in Johor Baru was disbelief at the egregious degree of parental neglect and dysfunction involved. She made a plea for family members to look out for the danger signs of "stress" that could whiplash into child abuse. Shahrizat’s ministry, although watchful of the cases that do come to its notice, is clueless about those that are not reported to the police or the hotlines and other services the Welfare Department provides.
Whether or not the government’s child protection mechanisms are adequate depends on how much abuse there actually is below its somewhat limited radar. The harming of minors under care can have causes and effects so complex that only psychologists can detect them. As in India, comprehensive research would almost certainly reveal the sort of mistreatment that was once unheeded, covered up or regarded as none of anyone else’s business. In India, too, an in-depth academic study was a precursor to the evolution of laws from a "needs-based" to a "rights-based" approach to child development. The deaths of Shearwel Ooi Ying Ying and others may or may not be due to an anomalous breakdown in the biological ties between parent and child. Either way, newspaper headlines of such heart-rending instances are no basis for future policy.
THE shock and horror over the rise in child abuse almost everywhere have less to do with the fact that it happens at all but where and by whom.
In Ireland and the United States, offences against children were sensationally found to be endemic in church-run facilities, committed by men of the cloth. In the siege of the Lal Masjid in Islamabad earlier this month, many of the human shields suborned by the mad mullah Abdul Rashid Ghazi in his standoff against the Pakistan military were boys and girls. A recent study by Unicef and the Indian government adjudged two out of three children to be abused, giving the lie to the families and communities that were thought of as their guardians. In Malaysia, the worst offenders are not the dirty old men bearing sweets and trinkets, but mothers and fathers as seemingly ordinary as the ones next door.
Violence in the home is difficult to winkle out, shrouded as it usually is in a conspiracy of silence between perpetrator and victim, and sometimes abetted by a society that prefers not to know. The "don’t ask, don’t tell" syndrome constrains even the government’s willingness to intervene. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s first reaction to the latest alleged baby beating case in Johor Baru was disbelief at the egregious degree of parental neglect and dysfunction involved. She made a plea for family members to look out for the danger signs of "stress" that could whiplash into child abuse. Shahrizat’s ministry, although watchful of the cases that do come to its notice, is clueless about those that are not reported to the police or the hotlines and other services the Welfare Department provides.
Whether or not the government’s child protection mechanisms are adequate depends on how much abuse there actually is below its somewhat limited radar. The harming of minors under care can have causes and effects so complex that only psychologists can detect them. As in India, comprehensive research would almost certainly reveal the sort of mistreatment that was once unheeded, covered up or regarded as none of anyone else’s business. In India, too, an in-depth academic study was a precursor to the evolution of laws from a "needs-based" to a "rights-based" approach to child development. The deaths of Shearwel Ooi Ying Ying and others may or may not be due to an anomalous breakdown in the biological ties between parent and child. Either way, newspaper headlines of such heart-rending instances are no basis for future policy.
2007 08: MOM-STER IN THE HOME: The ugly spectre of growing child abuse
NST Online. Frontpage. 29/7/07
Mothers and fathers are doing the unthinkable: Abusing their children and scarring them for life. In some cases, they have sent them to an early grave. What drives such insanity? P. SELVARANI and TAN CHOE CHOE examine the social phenomenon that is leaving Malaysians shaken to the core
MOTHERS are said to have been created by God as He could not be everywhere.
But some are committing the ultimate betrayal by abusing their own flesh and blood — their children.
This is a phenomenon puzzling to the authorities and the average Malaysian alike, that the very people charged with raising and nurturing children — parents — are hurting them beyond belief, sometimes to death.
There is no escaping the ugly spectre of worsening statistics: Child abuse cases have increased by 60 per cent in the past five years, from 1,242 in 2002 to 1,999 last year.
It paints a frightening outlook for the future.
Mothers were responsible for 493 of the 1,999 cases of child abuse last year, according to Welfare Department statistics.
Fathers, their children’s supposed hero and protector, came in a close second. They were responsible for 441 of the cases.
Collectively, parents were responsible for nearly five out of 10 cases of child abuse last year.
Police statistics show that of the 26 child murder cases reported in the first five months of this year, five were committed by fathers and two by mothers.
Some of the victims were newborn babies.
At least two out of 10 victims were less than 4 years old.
Those between 7 and 15 made up the majority of reported cases.
Statistics also show that in 214 cases, the boyfriend or girlfriend of the victims had a hand in the abuse.
Other abusers were friends, relatives, step-parents, babysitters and neighbours.
The figures were so alarming that police set up the Sexual Crimes and Children division, or D11, to handle them.
According to the department, the reasons for abuse vary but family problems were the main cause cited (659 cases).
In 116 cases, the abusers were found to be mentally disturbed.
There were also abusers who were alcoholics (83), dadah addicts (81) and those who were abuse victims themselves (28).
Living apart from the family in their early growing up years was also cited as a reason for abuse, especially among parents.
There were abusers who blamed the child for being hyperactive, making it difficult for the parents or guardian to watch over them. Exhaustion led to frayed tempers and in 101 cases, violence.
A small number of abusers cited financial problems, superstitious beliefs and the intention of disciplining children.
To 33 abusers, the fact that a child was born out of wedlock was enough cause for abuse.
In about 10 per cent of cases, no one could identify a reason for the abuse.
Urbanisation may also be a factor as the incidents mostly occurred in more developed states, such as Selangor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
"This is a possibility as city dwellers usually work long hours and are generally stressed.
"From our data, higher density areas generally have more reported cases," said Welfare Department director-general Datuk Rafek Reshidullah.
Some 50 per cent of cases reported to the department last year came from government hospitals.
The 24-hour Teledera helpline, a dedicate telephone line to report child abuse, referred only 37 cases to the department over the same period.
"The number is not big but Teledera is very effective, especially in reaching out to those who need advice or immediate help.
"During office hours, the department will handle the telephone calls. Calls outside office hours are routed to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
Most cases reported are new cases, said Rafek.
"We have a registry that keeps track of victims and abusers. We know who they are, and repeat incidents are rare.
"However, he said not all abuse cases were reported to the police, with reported cases being the very severe ones.
Once an abusive parent or guardian is referred to the department, a welfare officer will separate the child from him (or her) and place the victim in a temporary shelter.
The parent or guardian will then be counselled.
"We will investigate the case and the findings will be presented to the Children’s Court.
"The court will decide if the child remains with the parent or guardian or is placed in the care of a more fit and proper person.
"In most cases, the child is usually returned to the care of the family, providing the parent or guardian who abused the child is repentant.
"Otherwise, the child may be placed in foster care or, as a last resort, sent to a welfare institution or orphanage.
The sorry episode does not end there. The abused victim may go on to become an abuser.
Mothers and fathers are doing the unthinkable: Abusing their children and scarring them for life. In some cases, they have sent them to an early grave. What drives such insanity? P. SELVARANI and TAN CHOE CHOE examine the social phenomenon that is leaving Malaysians shaken to the core
MOTHERS are said to have been created by God as He could not be everywhere.
But some are committing the ultimate betrayal by abusing their own flesh and blood — their children.
This is a phenomenon puzzling to the authorities and the average Malaysian alike, that the very people charged with raising and nurturing children — parents — are hurting them beyond belief, sometimes to death.
There is no escaping the ugly spectre of worsening statistics: Child abuse cases have increased by 60 per cent in the past five years, from 1,242 in 2002 to 1,999 last year.
It paints a frightening outlook for the future.
Mothers were responsible for 493 of the 1,999 cases of child abuse last year, according to Welfare Department statistics.
Fathers, their children’s supposed hero and protector, came in a close second. They were responsible for 441 of the cases.
Collectively, parents were responsible for nearly five out of 10 cases of child abuse last year.
Police statistics show that of the 26 child murder cases reported in the first five months of this year, five were committed by fathers and two by mothers.
Some of the victims were newborn babies.
At least two out of 10 victims were less than 4 years old.
Those between 7 and 15 made up the majority of reported cases.
Statistics also show that in 214 cases, the boyfriend or girlfriend of the victims had a hand in the abuse.
Other abusers were friends, relatives, step-parents, babysitters and neighbours.
The figures were so alarming that police set up the Sexual Crimes and Children division, or D11, to handle them.
According to the department, the reasons for abuse vary but family problems were the main cause cited (659 cases).
In 116 cases, the abusers were found to be mentally disturbed.
There were also abusers who were alcoholics (83), dadah addicts (81) and those who were abuse victims themselves (28).
Living apart from the family in their early growing up years was also cited as a reason for abuse, especially among parents.
There were abusers who blamed the child for being hyperactive, making it difficult for the parents or guardian to watch over them. Exhaustion led to frayed tempers and in 101 cases, violence.
A small number of abusers cited financial problems, superstitious beliefs and the intention of disciplining children.
To 33 abusers, the fact that a child was born out of wedlock was enough cause for abuse.
In about 10 per cent of cases, no one could identify a reason for the abuse.
Urbanisation may also be a factor as the incidents mostly occurred in more developed states, such as Selangor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
"This is a possibility as city dwellers usually work long hours and are generally stressed.
"From our data, higher density areas generally have more reported cases," said Welfare Department director-general Datuk Rafek Reshidullah.
Some 50 per cent of cases reported to the department last year came from government hospitals.
The 24-hour Teledera helpline, a dedicate telephone line to report child abuse, referred only 37 cases to the department over the same period.
"The number is not big but Teledera is very effective, especially in reaching out to those who need advice or immediate help.
"During office hours, the department will handle the telephone calls. Calls outside office hours are routed to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
Most cases reported are new cases, said Rafek.
"We have a registry that keeps track of victims and abusers. We know who they are, and repeat incidents are rare.
"However, he said not all abuse cases were reported to the police, with reported cases being the very severe ones.
Once an abusive parent or guardian is referred to the department, a welfare officer will separate the child from him (or her) and place the victim in a temporary shelter.
The parent or guardian will then be counselled.
"We will investigate the case and the findings will be presented to the Children’s Court.
"The court will decide if the child remains with the parent or guardian or is placed in the care of a more fit and proper person.
"In most cases, the child is usually returned to the care of the family, providing the parent or guardian who abused the child is repentant.
"Otherwise, the child may be placed in foster care or, as a last resort, sent to a welfare institution or orphanage.
The sorry episode does not end there. The abused victim may go on to become an abuser.
2007 08: Girl claims teacher molested her
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007
ALOR STAR: A 16-year-old schoolgirl has lodged a police report alleging that a teacher had molested her.
She claimed that the teacher had given her RM15 after he had caressed her cheek, breasts and thigh.
She said the incident occurred at about noon in a small room inside the school’s arts room on Wednesday.
She said she had earlier asked the teacher to send her elder sister, who is in Form Five, home as she was suffering from tonsillitis.
“I asked my friend to accompany us as I did not want to be alone with the teacher on our way back to school.
“When we reached the school, the teacher parked the car in a secluded area and asked my friend to go back to the classroom,” she said, adding that the teacher asked her to follow him to a room where he allegedly molested her.
She said he later gave her RM15.
“I threw the money and rushed back home,” the girl said.
Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Mohd Karim Abu confirmed that the girl had lodged a report alleging that her teacher molested her.
“We have questioned the teacher. The teacher claimed he did not do it,” he said.
ALOR STAR: A 16-year-old schoolgirl has lodged a police report alleging that a teacher had molested her.
She claimed that the teacher had given her RM15 after he had caressed her cheek, breasts and thigh.
She said the incident occurred at about noon in a small room inside the school’s arts room on Wednesday.
She said she had earlier asked the teacher to send her elder sister, who is in Form Five, home as she was suffering from tonsillitis.
“I asked my friend to accompany us as I did not want to be alone with the teacher on our way back to school.
“When we reached the school, the teacher parked the car in a secluded area and asked my friend to go back to the classroom,” she said, adding that the teacher asked her to follow him to a room where he allegedly molested her.
She said he later gave her RM15.
“I threw the money and rushed back home,” the girl said.
Kubang Pasu OCPD Supt Mohd Karim Abu confirmed that the girl had lodged a report alleging that her teacher molested her.
“We have questioned the teacher. The teacher claimed he did not do it,” he said.
2007 08: Parent: Teacher slapped my son
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
KLANG: In another case of school rage, a motor workshop owner alleged that a Tamil schoolteacher slapped his son.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, claimed that the teacher was angry that the Year Four pupil had been slow in picking up litter which she had ordered him to clear.
“She scolded my son for the delay and slapped him,” he said, adding that the boy, S. Kirbakaran, stumbled and the left side of his face hit the corner of a desk.
Shanmugamoorthy said he lodged a police report after fetching his son from the school, following Tuesday's incident at the SJK (T) Batu Empat in Kampung Jawa here.
He then took the boy, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical check-up at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
KLANG: In another case of school rage, a motor workshop owner alleged that a Tamil schoolteacher slapped his son.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, claimed that the teacher was angry that the Year Four pupil had been slow in picking up litter which she had ordered him to clear.
“She scolded my son for the delay and slapped him,” he said, adding that the boy, S. Kirbakaran, stumbled and the left side of his face hit the corner of a desk.
Shanmugamoorthy said he lodged a police report after fetching his son from the school, following Tuesday's incident at the SJK (T) Batu Empat in Kampung Jawa here.
He then took the boy, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical check-up at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
2007 08: Student may be suspended for strangling his teacher
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student may face suspension for strangling his teacher.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was strangled by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school's toilet.
The victim was teaching in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the school toilet.
She went there and told nine male students to come out.
However, she was met by jeers and taunts by the suspect when they did came out.
The teacher then decided to reprimand the student and three others by telling them to do squats 10 times but the same student ignored her orders and went back inside the toilet.
She grabbed his wrists but he brushed her hands away and shoved the teacher against a wall.
He then strangled her before other students came to break up the scuffle.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department would investigate the matter to determine the right course of actions to be taken.
"We will investigate and see whether there is a need to suspend the student," said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
Mokhy said the department would also arrange a meeting between the teacher and the student's parents before deciding on further actions.
.............................................................
Boy who attacked teacher expelled, but he can appeal
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student who tried to strangle his teacher for reprimanding him has been expelled.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department had investigated the matter and decided to expel him.
“But he can appeal against the decision,” said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was attacked by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school’s toilet.
She was in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the toilet.
She went over and told the nine boys to come out. The boys came out. Some jeered and taunted her.
The teacher decided to reprimand them by telling them to do 10 squats. However, the 17-year-old student ignored her and turned to return to the toilet.
The teacher grabbed his wrist to stop him but the boy shook off her hands, shoved her against a wall and started choking her before other students rushed to stop him.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
Mokhy said the department met the teacher and the student’s parents before reaching the decision.
“Students do such things probably because they feel that the teachers should not discipline them.
“This could be due to recent reports where teachers were reprimanded for punishing their students,” said Mokhy.
.............................................................
Schoolboy makes amends for action
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: The 17-year-old boy who tried to strangle his female teacher has made amends for his action.
In the presence of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who was at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi to investigate the matter yesterday, the boy shook the teacher's hand and kissed it.
“We consider the case closed. The boy can appeal against the expulsion or asks to be transferred to another school,” Noh said.
The teacher said she would apply to be transferred to another school.
“I want to put the incident behind me,” said the teacher who taught English, Science and Mathematics.
Noh reiterated that all schools must follow the proper procedure in dealing with discipline issues, to be fair to all parties involved.
He said that while punishment was important to deal with discipline problems, adhering to the right process was even more important.
“I reminded all district offices last week that in such cases, the student, teacher, parents, parent-teacher associations and the police must be summoned to a hearing,” he said.
In this case, both parties acted emotionally, he said, adding that all teachers should not make spontaneous decisions.
“The student was wrong in this matter but the school was too focused on punishment and disregarded the right procedures.
“The student and his eight friends will undergo a motivation course at the curriculum centre in Johor Baru while the teacher will seek counselling,” said Noh.
Noh also said that a teacher in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Kedah, who allegedly molested a student, would be suspended for two months.
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student may face suspension for strangling his teacher.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was strangled by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school's toilet.
The victim was teaching in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the school toilet.
She went there and told nine male students to come out.
However, she was met by jeers and taunts by the suspect when they did came out.
The teacher then decided to reprimand the student and three others by telling them to do squats 10 times but the same student ignored her orders and went back inside the toilet.
She grabbed his wrists but he brushed her hands away and shoved the teacher against a wall.
He then strangled her before other students came to break up the scuffle.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department would investigate the matter to determine the right course of actions to be taken.
"We will investigate and see whether there is a need to suspend the student," said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
Mokhy said the department would also arrange a meeting between the teacher and the student's parents before deciding on further actions.
.............................................................
Boy who attacked teacher expelled, but he can appeal
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student who tried to strangle his teacher for reprimanding him has been expelled.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department had investigated the matter and decided to expel him.
“But he can appeal against the decision,” said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was attacked by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school’s toilet.
She was in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the toilet.
She went over and told the nine boys to come out. The boys came out. Some jeered and taunted her.
The teacher decided to reprimand them by telling them to do 10 squats. However, the 17-year-old student ignored her and turned to return to the toilet.
The teacher grabbed his wrist to stop him but the boy shook off her hands, shoved her against a wall and started choking her before other students rushed to stop him.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
Mokhy said the department met the teacher and the student’s parents before reaching the decision.
“Students do such things probably because they feel that the teachers should not discipline them.
“This could be due to recent reports where teachers were reprimanded for punishing their students,” said Mokhy.
.............................................................
Schoolboy makes amends for action
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: The 17-year-old boy who tried to strangle his female teacher has made amends for his action.
In the presence of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who was at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi to investigate the matter yesterday, the boy shook the teacher's hand and kissed it.
“We consider the case closed. The boy can appeal against the expulsion or asks to be transferred to another school,” Noh said.
The teacher said she would apply to be transferred to another school.
“I want to put the incident behind me,” said the teacher who taught English, Science and Mathematics.
Noh reiterated that all schools must follow the proper procedure in dealing with discipline issues, to be fair to all parties involved.
He said that while punishment was important to deal with discipline problems, adhering to the right process was even more important.
“I reminded all district offices last week that in such cases, the student, teacher, parents, parent-teacher associations and the police must be summoned to a hearing,” he said.
In this case, both parties acted emotionally, he said, adding that all teachers should not make spontaneous decisions.
“The student was wrong in this matter but the school was too focused on punishment and disregarded the right procedures.
“The student and his eight friends will undergo a motivation course at the curriculum centre in Johor Baru while the teacher will seek counselling,” said Noh.
Noh also said that a teacher in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Kedah, who allegedly molested a student, would be suspended for two months.
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