Special court for cyber crimes

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first special court for cases involving the Internet is in operation and is to fast track the prosecution of offenders.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the court was dedicated to handling offences such as online gambling, spying, bank fraud, defamation, document falsification and pornography.

“This cyber court is equipped with facilities to function as an e-Court, as well as having technology-savvy judges and prosecutors,” she said after visiting the Kuala Lumpur court complex at Jalan Duta yesterday.

Noting that the court which began sitting yesterday was sharing the court complex’s Internet Protocol address, Azalina said it should have its own to avoid any operational setbacks that could delay proceedings.

Some 27 judges have undergone a training programme to enhance their knowledge on cyber crimes.

The training was at the Judicial and Legal Training Institute, in collaboration with the Communication and Multimedia Ministry.

Local and foreign experts conducted the programme.

Azalina said the cyber court would first focus on criminal cases and would subsequently hear civil cases as well.

There are 93 civil and 10 criminal cases involving cyber offences pending in Kuala Lumpur courts now.

According to her, cyber courts will be set up in other states later.

On amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act over religious conversion issues, Azalina said the Home Ministry had obtained feedback from various stakeholders and would present a paper to the Cabinet soon.

“But it is still not too late for others, including NGOs, to raise their concerns with MPs before Parlia­ment resumes in October,” she said.

Azalina hoped that MPs would support the proposed amendments.

On the proposal to widen the definition of rape in Section 375 of the Penal Code, she said the first task force meeting would be called next week to deliberate the matter with stakeholders.