From victims to sex predators

 

PETALING JAYA: Cases of children falling victim to sexual crimes from smartphone and social media exposure are well known, but there is an added twist to it now.

Police data show that these youngsters are becoming the predators of such crimes.

Bukit Aman CID Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11) principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Siti Kamsiah Hassan (pic) said misuse of mobile gadgets and social media was a gateway for children to also become perpetrators of sexual crimes.

With the sophistication of the latest gadgets and technology, she said it was not impossible for children to turn into the aggressor.

“It is feared that crimes involving victims and perpetrators among children occur especially involving those under the age of 10 who are considered as persons who can bear no criminal responsibility under the law.

“We fear that the crimes committed by these perpetrators go unreported and are resolved at the level of the affected families only,” she told The Star.

SAC Siti Kamsiah said the early introduction of social media or digital platforms to children could encourage sexual crimes, both physical and non-physical in nature, citing rape and grooming.

“It can happen even with new acquaintances and feelings of love do not even need to be present in such situations,” she said.

She revealed that there were 912 sexual crime cases recorded last year involving suspects aged below 18.

These included 601 rape cases, outraging modesty (17), unnatural sex (18), sexual harassment (23) and distribution or possession of obscene materials (three).

She said 20 underaged suspects were involved in attempts to use a child for child pornography.

“We also recorded 215 physical sexual assault on children cases, nine non-physical sexual assault as well as five grooming cases involving underaged suspects,” she said.

SAC Siti Kamsiah pointed out that while children under the age of 10 could not be held on criminal charges, only a police report could lead to an investigation to identify the problem.

She said this would help identify what motivated the child to go to such an extent and help in early intervention and rehabilitation by the relevant agencies and the family concerned.

“If the sexual behaviour of a child goes unreported and the family does not take initial steps to identify the cause and remedy it, it is feared that the child would consider this behaviour to be normal within society,” she said.

In 2022, 1,006 sexual crimes cases involving suspects below the age of 18 were recorded, which included 779 rape cases, outraging modesty (21), sexual harassment (eight) and distribution or possession of obscene materials (five).

“Three underaged suspects were also involved in attempting to produce and make, exchange, sell, access and use a child for child pornography,” she said, adding that police also recorded 190 physical sexual assault on children cases involving underaged suspects that year.

In 2021, police recorded 731 sexual crimes involving suspects below the age of 18. These included 552 rape cases, outraging modesty (five), sexual harassment (eight) and distribution or possession of obscene materials cases (two).

Six underaged suspects were involved in attempting to use a child for the purpose of child pornography, SAC Siti Kamsiah said, with 154 cases of physical sexual assault, two non-physical sexual assault cases and two grooming cases involving such suspects. - Star