KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman is studying the possibility of introducing mandatory punishment for repeat offenders.
Speaking during a special briefing by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday, Head of the Centre for the Study of Investigation and Prosecution Sciences at the Kuala Lumpur Police College Senior Asst Comm Mohd Fazley Ab Rahman said he was very interested in the idea, especially for certain offences.
“We want to take the spirit of Section 39(C) of the Dangerous Drug Act where if the arrested person has three cases of the same offence, he will automatically be given the mandatory punishment.
“This is among the laws we are suggesting where repeat offenders are given the mandatory punishment,” he said.
During the briefing, CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the department was in the midst of studying the available laws, in particular old laws, for review and to update to modern needs in order to have more bite.
“The police can only go as far as what is described and prescribed in the law. I have suggested that this year we look at laws that we feel are outdated so that they can be brought up to the ministerial level to ‘sharpen’ back its edge.
“Among those that we have brought forward are laws like the Common Gaming Houses Act, of which the government is still studying its use.
The environment of gambling has changed drastically,” he said.
Other laws being looked at included those linked to prostitution and car theft, due to the ever changing modus operandi of such crimes.
“If you look at prostitution, syndicates no longer ‘keep’ prostitutes in one location. Customers are also dealt with over the phone with the money being transferred online.
“If the prostitute is arrested they will say that the sex was done consensually and without payment.
“Due to that, arrests cannot be made because there is no victim involved,” he said.
