Call for more options in sentencing those with special needs in Singapore

A good touch: We need to teach children with special needs not only how to protect themselves from sexual abuse, but also about the positive aspects of human sexuality.

SHOULD a person with special needs be culpable for a sexual crime if there was no bad intent or awareness of wrongdoing?

This issue was widely debated recently after a 22-year-old man with autism was arrested in Malaysia last month for allegedly touching a woman’s chest when out celebrating his birthday with his family. Ahmad Ziqri Morshidi is now out on bail. Fearing that his condition would worsen if he went through the legal process, his mother is appealing to the victim to withdraw the complaint. More than 30,000 people have signed a petition for him to be treated fairly.