A second Rohingya teenager has been brought to court for breaching the movement control order (MCO).
The 16-year-old boy was charged before the Ampang Magistrate’s Court today following his arrest by Ampang police.
On Wednesday, the Ampang police’s application for a one-week-remand order for a 13-year-old Rohingya boy was allowed by the same court.
According to the charge sheet for this morning’s case, which Malaysiakini sighted, the 16-year-old was arrested on April 13 in Pandah Indah, Selangor when he was found moving about outdoors without a valid reason.
He was charged with one count under Section 3(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 before Magistrate Normaizan Rahim.
The boy pleaded not guilty and his next court date has been fixed for July 1.
If found guilty, he could face a fine of not more than RM1,000 or a sentence of not more than six months or both.
When contacted, the child’s lawyer Collin Arvind Andrew said his client had been arrested when accompanying one other person on a grocery run.
They had been on their way home when they encountered a police roadblock near where they lived.
“He went to buy essentials. When he was arrested he had all his things with him, rice, flour and sugar,” he said.
“We understand it is MCO but at the end of the day, we are dealing with children. There must be certain discretion that we use when dealing with them.
“Ultimately, we are saying they shouldn't even be charged, there are other measures like issuing a compound or giving caution and then releasing them,” Andrew added.
The lawyer, who represents both the 16-year-old and 13-year-old, also questioned the “disparity” in police processes between the two refugee boys.
Both carry United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) identification cards.
“This one (today) was arrested on April 13 and was released on police bail the same day. He was not remanded for a week [...]
“Do you see the disparity? The earlier boy was 13 years old and they remanded him for a week,” he pointed out. - Mkini
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