Girl who married rapist doing fine, says Rohani

> Sixteen-year-old in good health, living with her parents

KUALA LUMPUR: A minor in Sabah who married the man convicted of raping her is doing fine, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

Rohani said the girl, now 16 years old, is living with her parents in Kota Kinabalu.

She added the girl is still married to Riduan Masmud, 44, who is serving his 12-year jail term after being convicted of raping her in 2014.

“Our recent visit was on April 18. She is now 16 years old and in good health.

“She’s been living with her parents in Kota Kinabalu while her husband is serving his jail time,” Rohani told the Dewan Rakyat in a written reply.

The minister was answering queries from Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-DAP) on efforts made by the ministry to assist the rape victim.

Riduan, who raped the then 12year-old girl, married her three months later in an attempt to avoid being taken to court. He was believed to have raped the girl in a vehicle on a road near Kionsom Waterfall in Inaman, Sabah on Feb 18, 2013.

The pair met through Facebook where Riduan had posed as a 24-year-old man to win her trust.

Riduan’s four children were aged between two and 17 years old at the time of the offence.

She said the victim was no longer interested in furthering her studies after the attention she received due to the case.

The victim is currently helping her mother to take care of her nieces and interested in finding a job to support herself. “The counseling session is still ongoing, we want to make sure the victim is doing fine.

“Her parents also told us that they have no problem raising the children,” Rohani said.