KOTA BARU: Kelantan recorded the highest number of criminal cases related to drug abuse, with 3,683 cases last year, said Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat (pic).
She said of that number, the registration of cases in the High Court under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 stood at 72 cases, 254 cases in the Sessions Court and 3,357 cases in the Magistrate’s Court.
“From January to December last year, the total number of civil and criminal case registrations at all court levels in the Kota Baru Court Complex was 13,579.
“Of that number, 6,412 were criminal cases, and the highest number of criminal cases registered involved drug-related offences,” she said at the court complex’s opening ceremony yesterday.
Earlier, Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Dr Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail Petra officiated at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh.
Tengku Maimun, reported Bernama, also said cases involving sexual offences against children registered at the Kota Baru Sessions Court last year were worrying, with 59 cases recorded compared to 18 cases involving sexual crimes against adults.
“All parties must always be vigilant in ensuring that the rights and welfare of vulnerable children are always given priority, and child victims are given appropriate protection,” she said.
She added that on the part of the court, sexual crimes against children are always given priority, where the proceedings are handled in a special court.
Tengku Maimun called on all parties to unite and play their roles in eradicating this problem because of the atrocious consequences it creates that can destroy the future – especially the future of the young generation – and impede the physical and spiritual development of the people.
