Annual rape cases doubled from 2003

By WINNIE YEOH

Guess who was PM during that time? Yes, the bloody sleepy and useless Pak Lah. He was so useless and spineless that all the little Napoleans under him did whatever they wanted without fear and the criminal on the street took the hint that they too can do whatever they liked as the leadership is weak and useless. Now after 6 wasted years, we are suffering the effects. The economy is fucked, the crime rate is fucked, most things in this country is fucked. Thanks to Pak Lah and his so-called smart beruk son-in-law.

GEORGE TOWN: The number of rape cases reported in the country doubled from 2003 to 2007.

According to studies, there were 1,479 cases in 2003, but this rose to 3,098 four years later.

“What is worrying is that the figures only represent the number of cases reported. Most rapes cases went unreported.

“Experience tells us that only one out of 20 victims is willing to report her case,” said Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) Penang programme director Dr D. Prema.

She was speaking at the “Understanding and Supporting Rape Survivors” seminar at Penang Hospital Wednesday.

She said another area of concern was the prosecution of rape cases.

“We analysed 439 sexual crime cases tried in the Penang courts between 2000 and 2004, and found 137 cases pleaded guilty,” she said.

She said that 198 cases ended in a discharged, not amounting to acquittal, verdict.

“Out of the 118 rape cases which went on full trial, only seven rape cases and six statutory rape cases were convicted,” she said.

Dr Prema said WCC hoped different agencies could work to strengthen an integrated inter-agency approach to support rape victims.

“WCC is aware of the difficulties and challenges in reporting, investigating and prosecuting sexual crimes.

“We believe that support for rape victims must cover both physical and emotional recovery as well as access to justice,” she said.

She also said WCC began collaboration with the emergency department of Penang Hospital from April 2008 to provide support for rape victims when they went to the One Stop Crisis Centre for assistance.

Centre executive director Loh Cheng Kooi said the seminar was aimed at building a better understanding of the situation and the rights of rape survivors.

The seminar saw 200 participants, comprising medical personnel, welfare officers, police officers and state prosecutors.

It was jointly organised by Penang State Health Department and Penang Hospital.

Source : The Star