By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 3: Sarawak recorded a total of 67 rape cases in the first half of this year, with almost all the rape victims having known their attackers.
In disclosing this, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said only one case offender was a stranger while the other offenders are the people known by the victim such as biological fathers, stepfathers, uncles, brothers, brother-in-law, relatives and acquaintances.
Based on the statistics from the Sarawak Crime Investigation Department (CID), 42 rape cases happened with consent while 25 cases are without consent.
On the age group of the victims, 50 of them are aged between 13 to 16, six under the age of 12, five aged from 17 to 18, five aged from 19 to 25, and one above 26-years-old. The youngest victim is 11-years-old.
“Additionally, 41 rape victims were pregnant. Of these, 34 of them involved those aged between 13 to 16 and two below the age of 12,” she said after receiving a courtesy visit by the State CID chief SAC Lukas Aket and his delegation at the Baitulmakmur II building today.
For domestic violence crimes, there are 366 cases reported from Jan to June 2021, a decrease of 14 per cent or 60 cases from last year. Among the factors leading to the cases were related to drug and substance abuse, hot temper, divorce, financial problems, cheating, jealousy and misunderstandings.
Meanwhile, there were 37 suicide cases and 27 attempted suicides recorded from Jan to June 2021. Among the causes identified are mental health issues, breakup, family problems, indebtedness and drug and substance abuse.
For the same period, Sarawak also reported 766 cases related to online gambling.
“In summary, the crime index in Sararawak for the first half of this year has shown a 21 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year. We recorded 318 violent crime cases and 2,039 property crime cases,” she added.
At the same time, Fatimah said her ministry will continue to work together with the State CID in addressing the issues which are given focus by the Sarawak Social Development Council (MPSS) such as property crime cases, sexual assault towards women and children, domestic violence and mental health which includes suicide.
She said through the input made by the State CID in the form of evidence-based data and statistics, the MPSS would be able to develop and implement targeted social intervention programmes. — DayakDaily
