INCEST VICTIM WANTS TO KEEP BABY

19-year-old wants to raise child herself, says Fatimah

AN incest victim who is seven-months’ pregnant has expressed her wish to keep the child and raise it by herself. State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said what had happened was very unfortunate and traumatic, but the girl, 19, was ready to be a mother.

“She told our (welfare) officers that she wants to take care of her baby by herself and she doesn’t want the baby to be put up for adoption.

“So we are looking into assistance that can be channelled to her and her child,” she said.

Fatimah said the victim was in a stable condition and staying at a rehabilitation centre for unwed mothers in Taman Seri Puteri in Telaga Air.

“So far, she’s quite stable and our officers will take her for prenatal

Since she doesn’t have a job or stable income, we will enrol her for some training programmes so that she can learn some skills. DATUK FATIMAH ABDULLAH State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister

checkups until she delivers,” she said.

“She also told us that she doesn’t want to return to her family.

“Since she doesn’t have a job or stable income, we will enrol her for some training programmes so that she can learn some skills and (hopefully) make a living,” said Fatimah.

Meanwhile, her younger sister, 14, was sent to a children’s home following a court order granted to the department.

“We will continue to monitor her situation,” said Fatimah

“If it’s safe and suitable for her to return home, we will send her home.

“Otherwise, we will apply for a court order for her to (continue) staying at the children’s home.”

The two victims, from Kampung Daha Seroban in Serian, were raped by their father, grandfather and two uncles in the last six years.

The case came to light when Serian Hospital informed the police of the victim’s pregnancy.

The 57-year-old grandfather and his three sons were sentenced to 335 years’ jail by the Sessions Court for committing incest against the two victims.

BERNAMA PIC The four accused were sentenced to between 25 and 55 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court in Kota Samarahan last Friday.