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Published: Saturday October 13, 2012 MYT 3:02:00 PM
Updated: Saturday October 13, 2012 MYT 6:40:23 PM

Nazri: Provision disallowing reduced statutory rape sentences to be tabled in Parliament

BY EDMUND NGO


De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz

PADANG RENGAS: A provision disallowing judges from exercising their discretionary power to reduce the sentence given to statutory rapists will be tabled in Parliament soon, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

If passed, it will be added to Section 376 of the Penal Code, which prescribes mandatory jail sentence for those convicted of statutory rape.

De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the provision would state that Section 294(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which gives the judge discretionary power to reduce or give a lighter sentence to the accused, would not apply.

"If passed, the provision will mean that judges cannot give out lighter sentence in the case of statutory rape.

"I have spoken to the Attorney-General on the provision and he has agreed, therefore it will be tabled in the next Parliament sitting," he said in a press conference here on Saturday.

Nazri said the additional provision was important, as it would protect minors.

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