KOTA BARU: Cases of children who died due to sexual assault in the country have recorded a rise from 2018 until last year.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said based on police's statistics, 81 cases were recorded last year, 65 cases (2021), 44 cases (2020), 43 cases (2019) and 25 cases (2018).
He said other crime cases involving children and women recorded last year including rape (1,398 cases), gang rape (103 cases) and incest (264 cases).
"Financial problems and stress were among the reasons for the increase of abuse cases against children in addition to domestic violence," he told reporters after launching Kelantan police Children's Interview Centre (CIC) in Kemumin here today.
Present were Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigations Department's sexual, women and child investigation division (D11) principle asisstant director Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan and Kelantan CID chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Mohd Nor Yhazid Idris.
Asked on Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's recent remarks on the increase in sexual crime cases involving children in Kelantan, Abd Jalil said the matter was alarming.
"Based on police investigation including in Kelantan, sexual cases involving underage children are alarming," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nor Yhazid in his welcoming speech said last year alone, Kelantan police had recorded statements from 74 children who both were victims and witnesses.
From the figure, he said 62 were girls and 12 boys.
"Out of the statements, we found that 65 of the victims were genuine. These statements were recorded from those involved in sexual crime cases including rape, abuse and domestic violence," he said.