DPM: Deeper probe on child bride’s hubby
DPM: Deeper probe on child bride’s hubby
CRIMINAL action against the 41-year-old man who married an 11-year-old Thai girl in Kelantan can only be taken once a watertight case is established, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pic).
“We need to investigate the case deeper and build a watertight case so that such incidences will not happen again, period,” she said during her ministerial reply on the motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament yesterday.
She added that any action must be done accordingly as it would be a test case that would set a precedent for the recently passed law against grooming by sex predators.
Dr Wan Azizah said she had discussed the matter with the Attorney General’s Chambers, and they were looking for more evidence on the case.
She noted that the 11-year-old girl’s parents had claimed to her officers that they were a “functional family”.
“Action must be based on concrete evidence and not on media reports or hearsay,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said the girl was sent for a medical check-up.
However, she refused to divulge details as the case was still under investigation.
Dr Wan Azizah was responding to a suggestion by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) that the 41-yearold man should be charged under the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 instead of using Islamic jurisprudence.
“Don’t go through the Islamic law but as a sexual crime. The girl may be a Thai national but a crime is still a crime,” Azalina said.
Kasthuriraani Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) also called for criminal action against the man, as he had admitted to harbouring interest in the girl when she was only seven years old, and had groomed her into agreeing to marry him.
Earlier, a war of words erupted between Kasthuriraani and several PAS lawmakers when the former said the Kelantan state government was slow to respond to the case when it came to light.
Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS-Rantau Panjang) refuted Kasthuriraani’s claim, saying that she had personally met Thai authorities who were also unaware of the case.