KUALA LUMPUR: A stronger punishment is needed for the stepfather who took explicit photographs and videos of his 15-year-old stepdaughter, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said she hoped an appeal could be made against the leniency of the punishment.
The 56-year-old man was fined RM6,000 by the Muar Sessions Court after he pleaded guilty recently to recording and possessing the videos and photographs of his stepdaughter in the shower.
"A heavier punishment should be imposed on him as his behaviour and act of recording her are sickening.
"As a stepfather who should be the protector of his family members, he has behaved this way instead," Nancy said in a statement on Friday (March 21).
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Nancy said the offence under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both, upon conviction.
"I don't think I am alone in my view that the punishment is lenient for such a terrible offence.
"We must not tolerate any form of exploitation or sexual harassment of children.
"A stricter punishment is not only to give justice to the victim but a lesson and reminder to the community that action will be taken.
"It is to show that this kind of incident will not be accepted under any circumstances," she said.
The court decision has sparked public outrage and calls for stricter penalties in cases of child sexual exploitation.
The sentence has been criticised as disproportionately lenient, raising concerns about the message it sends about the severity of such offences.
The offence was committed between Sept 17 and Dec 21.
The victim discovered the recordings while clearing her stepfather’s e-mail storage and lodged a police report last week.
