'There's no excuse' – Latheefa Koya slams DPM for delay in child bride case

PETALING JAYA: There is no excuse for Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to delay prosecution against the 41-year-old man who married an 11-year-old, as the facts are clear that he sexually groomed the girl, Lawyers for Liberty said.

Its executive director Latheefa Koya released a scathing statement against Dr Wan Azizah who on Tuesday (July 31) said more investigation was needed to "build a water-tight case" and that she was in discussion with the Attorney General Chambers.

"The facts are not in dispute; the paedophile 41-year-old suspect has already admitted to lusting after this child since she was seven years old, has tried to contract a marriage with her, and most sickeningly, had cohabited with the child," Latheefa said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 1).

"Why is Wan Azizah then giving the excuse of ‘hearsay’ when the facts are well established and admitted even by the perpetrator?" she asked.

Latheefa said there was no "complexity" as claimed by the Women, Family and Community Development Minister and that the facts pointed to a serious offence of sexual grooming under the Sexual Offences Act 2017.

"In any event, the issue of ‘hearsay’ does not arise at all because the investigators have had plenty of time to record statements from all concerned, including the perpetrator himself," she said.

"There is no reasonable excuse for failing to enforce the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act to the fullest extent in this shocking and obvious case," she added.

Latheefa slammed Dr Wan Azizah for complicating matters, delaying action, and for passing the buck to the Attorney General.

"She herself as the Minister in charge must explain the reasons why no prosecution has been brought, as the AG is not in Parliament to do so," she said.

"Wan Azizah’s excuse that the investigation is still ongoing and that she cannot comment further may have been acceptable a month ago; but it is intolerable now," she added.