MCA wants double jeopardy laws for sex offenders

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must enact double jeopardy laws for sex offenders so that they face similar charges and conviction on home soil, despite serving time abroad, says Wanita MCA chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie.

She said such practices had already been enforced in several countries, including Australia, United Kingdom and America.

“Otherwise, how else could charges be slapped on the reported worst-known paedophile Richard Huckle for child sex abuse-related crimes committed in Malaysia, whereby British courts convicted and incarcerated him with 22 life- sentences?” she asked in a statement here yesterday.

Heng was commenting on the return of Selva Kumar Subbiah, a convicted serial rapist from Canada.

Subbiah, believed to have attacked up to 1,000 women, has finished a 24-year sentence sentence in Canada and is set to be deported to Malaysia.

Heng said Wanita MCA noted the assurance by Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar that the police would keep tabs on Subbiah.

Legally, there are no laws to restrict his movement.

Heng said in addition to double jeopardy charges and convictions, the women’s wing also recommended that legislation be enacted to disallow sex offenders, including convicted rapists, sexual molesters, paedophiles from being in the same premises with underage children, and to maintain a minimum distance away from minor girls, boys and victims, upon their release from prison.

“Exceptions may be made only in circumstances where the sex offender is accompanied by an appointed officer from the authorities, and they should be made to wear a tracking device to monitor their movement,” she said.

She added that Wanita MCA asserted that sexual grooming must also be made a crime and recommended courses be conducted in schools to inculcate students on sexual grooming. — Bernama