KOTA BHARU – Statutory rape cases involving mutual consent between underage girls and men in Kelantan will now be referred to the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaheaik) for action in the syariah courts.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the move enabled legal action to be taken against girls aged 16 and below who were involved in such cases.
He said the decision was reached following a meeting with Jaheaik about two months ago and has been implemented immediately.
"Its implementation began immediately after the meeting.
"This step follows the decree of the Sultan of Kelantan that rape cases found to involve consensual relationships be handed over to state religious authorities," he said.
Yusoff was speaking at a press conference on Thursday after officiating the monthly assembly at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK).
He said five cases had so far been referred to Jaheaik for further action.
Yusoff added that teenage girls aged 17 and 18 who fall under sexual threshold offences under Section 14(a) of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act would also be charged in the syariah courts.
On the overall trend, he said rape cases in Kelantan had recorded a slight decline compared with previous years.
"We do not rule out the possibility that this decline is due to victims or parents being afraid to lodge reports," he said.
Meanwhile, Islamic Development, Dakwah, Information and Regional Relations state exco Mohd Asri Mat Daud confirmed that Jaheaik had received reports related to the consensual rape cases.