PETALING JAYA: Cases of children falling victim to sexual crimes due to exposure to smartphones and social media are well-documented, but there is now a concerning trend emerging.
Police data indicates that these young individuals are increasingly becoming the perpetrators of such crimes.
Bukit Aman CID Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11) principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Siti Kamsiah Hassan (pic) highlighted that the misuse of mobile devices and social media has become a gateway for children to also engage in sexual crimes.
Due to the advanced technology and gadgets available, she expressed concerns that children themselves could transform into the perpetrators of such offenses.
“There is a fear that crimes involving both victims and perpetrators among children, particularly those under the age of 10 who are legally deemed incapable of bearing criminal responsibility, may be on the rise,” SAC Siti Kamsiah stated.
She warned that the early exposure of children to social media or digital platforms could lead to an increase in sexual crimes, including physical acts like rape and grooming.
“These crimes can occur even with individuals who are newly acquainted, without the presence of genuine feelings of love,” she mentioned.
She disclosed that in the previous year, there were 912 sexual crime cases involving suspects below 18 years old, encompassing offenses such as 601 cases of rape, 17 of outraging modesty, 18 of unnatural sex, 23 of sexual harassment, and 3 involving distribution or possession of obscene materials.
She mentioned that 20 underaged suspects were implicated in attempting to exploit a child for child pornography.
“Furthermore, there were 215 cases of physical sexual assault on children, 9 cases of non-physical sexual assault, and 5 cases of grooming involving underaged suspects,” SAC Siti Kamsiah elaborated.
SAC Siti Kamsiah emphasized that although children under 10 cannot be prosecuted for crimes, reporting such incidents to the police is crucial as it initiates an investigation to address the issue.
ALSO READ : Caution advised for any law that tackles child perpetrators
She stressed that early intervention and rehabilitation are essential in understanding what factors led the child to engage in such behavior and preventing its normalization within society.
She cautioned that if a child’s inappropriate sexual behavior remains unreported and unaddressed, it may become normalized within their perception of societal norms.
In the year 2022, authorities recorded 1,006 sexual crimes involving suspects below 18, including 779 rape cases, 21 outraging modesty cases, 8 cases of sexual harassment, and 5 cases related to possession of obscene materials.
“Three underaged suspects were involved in attempts related to child pornography, and there were 190 cases of physical sexual assault on children involving underaged suspects in that year,” she added.
During the year 2021, there were 731 sexual crimes involving suspects below 18, with 552 rape cases, 5 outraging modesty cases, 8 sexual harassment cases, and 2 cases of possession of obscene materials.
Six underaged suspects were implicated in incidents related to child pornography, along with 154 cases of physical sexual assault, 2 non-physical sexual assault cases, and 2 grooming cases involving such suspects.
