Special court for sexual crimes against children to be extended to Sarawak

KUCHING: Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim hopes the special court for sexual crimes against children can be extended to Sarawak before end of this year.

“Let’s pray that we will get it this year. I will push for it,” she said when met by reporters at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday.

Rohani pointed out that there is no need for a new facility to be built in order for the special court to take place.

According to her, all that is required will be some rearrangement of the existing court house here such as allocating a room for the child victim.

She said video-conferencing facility would have to be put in place so that the judge could hear out the victim.

“The special court, which was launched in Putrajaya on July 4, is meant to create a space for the victim who will not be placed in the same court room with the suspect.

“The victim will be put in another room, separated from the suspect, so that the victim can voice out because sometimes the victim cannot do so due to the trauma he or she went through,” she said.

Rohani added that only the judge had access to the videoconferencing with the victim.

She said she had requested the special court for Sarawak during the last cabinet meeting.

As such, she hoped that the request would be put through as soon as possible.

“If we can’t get it this year, perhaps early next year. I want justice for our victims in Sarawak,” she added.