PETALING JAYA: Taking away the court's discretionary power in statutory rape cases is the “only way” to ensure deterrent sentences, says Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
“While the move may be seen by certain quarters as interfering with judicial discretion, we have to take into account the seriousness of the offence,” he said, adding that allowing first-time offenders to get away without jail time could give rise to more child-rape cases.
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