Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri has expressed strong disapproval over the lenient punishment given to a man who was fined RM6,000 for secretly recording his 15-year-old stepdaughter in the nude. She urged the authorities to appeal the ruling, emphasizing that the penalty fails to reflect the severity of the crime.
Nancy asserted that as a stepfather, the man had a duty to protect his family rather than violate their trust. She insisted that a harsher sentence would not only bring justice to the victim but also serve as a deterrent for similar offenses. “I don’t think I am alone in my view that the punishment is too lenient for such a grave offence,” she stated, stressing that any form of child exploitation or sexual harassment must be met with firm legal consequences.
MCA deputy secretary-general Dr. Pamela Yong also urged the deputy public prosecutor to challenge the court’s ruling. She argued that the RM6,000 fine was grossly inadequate, failing to match the severity of the offense or discourage potential offenders.
The 56-year-old cleaner was charged in the Muar Sessions Court under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act. He pleaded guilty to possessing 18 video recordings and images of his stepdaughter while she was showering. The law stipulates a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both. However, the court opted for a fine alone, sparking criticism.
The punishment in such cases should be more severe, given the emotional trauma inflicted on the victim. Light sentences in such cases send the wrong message, potentially emboldening perpetrators. Monetary fines often fail to reflect the long-term impact of sexual crimes on victims.
There should be stricter enforcement of laws protecting children from sexual exploitation. Community as a whole can stress the need for a more victim-centered approach in sentencing, ensuring that justice is served while reinforcing the importance of safeguarding minors from such violations.
As discussions around this case continue, many await a possible appeal that could lead to a more fitting punishment for the offender.
Information Source: FMT
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
