SHAH ALAM – Victims not realising they are being manipulated is among the biggest challenges in prosecuting individuals involved in cases of grooming, sexual exploitation and online child pornography.
Lawyer Ng Xin Ru said this situation makes it difficult for such crimes to be reported to the authorities so that action can be taken against the perpetrators, considering the young age factor of victims who do not yet understand the true situation.
He said most perpetrators who have pedophilic tendencies use a gradual manipulation approach until the victim is influenced to share obscene photos or videos.
"Children in that situation cannot assess or know the true intention of the perpetrator because their mindset is still naive.
"Cases of child grooming leading to the sharing of obscene photos or videos happen progressively and not suddenly.
"Often, grooming cases or pedophilic acts are uncovered after being discovered by parents or guardians," he said.
When asked how strong digital evidence, such as photos or videos, is in prosecution, Ng stated that such material is crucial in proving online crimes.
He said that the court can also assess various aspects of behavior and the intent of a pedophile through messages sent to the victim.
"Through those messages, the court can also evaluate how a perpetrator influences a child’s mind," he said.
At the same time, Ng did not rule out the possibility of perpetrators repeating the offense after being released.
Therefore, she said, perpetrators need to be required to undergo psychiatric treatment and be monitored closely by the authorities for a long period.
"In some countries, convicted child sex offenders are given travel restrictions and are not allowed to reside near school areas," he said.