SHAH ALAM - Proper investigation procedures were not followed in the case of an underage girl who was raped at a police station recently, said former Inspector-General of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.
Musa was commenting on a case which happened earlier this month, where an investigating officer (IO) of a case, Mohd Maliki Azmi was reported to have raped a 16-year-old girl by using his position of authority over her, at the Yan district police headquarters (IPD), Kedah, on Dec 28, 2022.
It was reported that the victim had gone to the police headquarters to lodge a report alleging that she was raped by her stepfather.
The girl claimed that the police officer had asked her to enter his room to carry out inspections.
However, the police officer took advantage in the pretext of inspecting her and had raped her.
He has since be charged under Section 376(2)(f) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Musa said such an incident should not have happened at a police station.
"The officer has gone against proper procedure where abuse and sexual assault cases needs to be handled by experienced women or senior officers," he said in an episode of Sinar Daily's Wacana English Edition entitled 'Abused and Vulnerable: Are the Children Safe?'
Musa also pointed out that the police had already established a Child Abuse Unit with experts to tackle child trauma and record the victims' statement.
"In order to investigate child abuse, you need the testimony of the child to be corroborated. It can be corroborated by scientific investigation, for example through the injuries." he elaborated He added that the community has an important role to play to help the authorities in doing better to protect them.
"For example, neighbours should call the police when they overhear a child crying or a quarrel between a husband and a wife so that the relevant authorities would come over to check." he said