PETALING JAYA: A total of 4,713 cases under the Sexual Offences Against Children (SOAC) Act 2017 were resolved between 2018 and January last year.
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said 5,519 cases were reported and 3,060 cases were prosecuted in court during that period, according to Bernama.
She said the Act helped police conduct investigations and the prosecution to frame specific charges for offences committed against children, compared to using laws such as the Penal Code.
“This is because cases of sexual offences involving child victims will often have unique characteristics, which are not present in cases involving adults.
“Therefore, the provisions in the Act can provide protection which is more accurate and comprehensive for children,” she said during the ministers’ question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She was responding to a question from Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) regarding the number of cases involving sexual offences against children that had been reported, prosecuted and resolved since the Act came into force.
She said the government would also amend the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 to provide for special hearings so that the testimony of a child witness could be taken in the form of a video recording so children do not have to attend the trial.
She said this would prevent the victim from experiencing the trauma of facing an abuser in court.
She said this amendment would also allow the court to prohibit inappropriate questions from being asked so that a child witness can give evidence in a calm and comfortable manner.
“All steps taken in the process of the criminal justice system in cases of sexual crimes against children should be child-friendly,” she said.
Additionally, she said the government would table a bill in the Dewan Rakyat to amend the SOAC Act.
The bill aims, among others, to criminalise the act of “directly participating, organising, promoting, directing the abuse, or receiving money” in connection with the live streaming of sexual acts involving minors.