Police to re-look Kedah teenage bride’s rape case, says A-G

Police will re-open investigations into the rape of a 13-year-old girl from Kedah who married and divorced one of her alleged rapists, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail (pic) said today.

He said the girl had lodged a report at the Kulim police station on July 15, 2013, saying two teenagers raped her, followed by Mohd Fahmi Mohamed Alias who later married her.

"I have ordered the investigations t be reopened due to public interest. I have to take public interest into account as well.

"When the police report was lodged last year, two out of three suspects were arrested. The third suspect is still at large despite his identity being known to the police," Abdul Gani told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

"Of the two who were arrested, one was charged in court and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to a year at a reform school in Paya Terubong," he revealed.

Media reports said the girl's marriage to 19-year-old Mohd Fahmi too place on November 17, 2013 after the Kulim Syariah Court gave permission as she was underaged.

Her father had initially claimed last year that he agreed to the marriage to prevent the couple from being involved in illicit acts. However, the union has now ended in divorce and allegations that Mohd Fahmi and two friends had raped her four months before they tied the knot.

The second suspect who was arrested was Mohd Fahmi, but the deputy public prosecutor at that time withdrew the case for certain reasons, according to Abdul Gani.

Abdul Gani said when police passed him the investigation file, there were only four statements recorded, from Nor Fazira, Saad, the victim's aunt and from the doctor who examined the victim.

"I had a meeting with the police this morning and I have given the investigating officer fresh instructions and what I want, including additional statements," Abdul Gani said.

"I had not commented on the case earlier despite the wave of publicity on social media and mainstream because I wanted to study the file first and understand the facts."

What is reported in the blogs and newspapers is not what the deputy public prosecutor will take to court, Abdul Gani said. It is the contents of the investigation file.

"I have given the police a week to obtain the additional information which I am looking for. Then I will study the findings of the investigating officer before making a decision," he said.

Abdul Gani revealed that he has issued instructions to the police that any withdrawal of rape reports in future must be referred to headquarters.

The Star reported last week that the girl's father had allowed his daughter to marry Mohd Fahmi because the latter's parents begged him to withdraw his police report.

Mohd Fahmi's parents said the possible punishment for rape of up to 20 years in jail and whipping would be harsh for their son.

After visiting the father for five nights in a row, Mohd Fahmi's parents managed to convince him to withdraw the police report and agree to his daughter's marriage to their son.

After the marriage, the situation apparently took a turn for the worse as the girl has alleged suffering torment at the hands of her in-laws in Padang Serai.

Her father told The Star that Mohd Fahmi's parents never liked Nor Fazira and only arranged for the marriage so that their son would not be tried for rape.