A gang rapist has walked free from court after being convicted of the attack on a 12-year-old – and instead will be let off on a ‘good behaviour bond’. The boy, who has not been identified, was convicted in 2021 and the High Court in Kedah, Malaysia, upheld a ruling which means he will be on a behaviour bond rather than community service.
Prosecutors appealed against the initial sentence, arguing that gang rape is a serious offence under the penal code, and said the 14-year-old requires a “severe, custodial sentence”, reports Free Malaysia Today.
Dismissing the appeal, Justice Johan Lee said: “The sentence remains within the permissible ambit of Section 91(1)(b) of the Child Act 2001 and does not shock the conscience of the court.”
This came despite the boy playing a full role in the offence.
In a 28-page judgement Justice Lee said he understood the prosecution’s argument but believes it does not “mechanically extinguish or override” the sentencing framework.
The boy was charged with two others after the offence, which happened at a hotel in Alor Setar, the state capital of Kedah, on September 17, 2021.
His two co-accused were found guilty in 2024 and sentenced to 13 years each in jail.
But the third boy was placed on the good behaviour bond, meaning he was obliged to report to the welfare department every two months.
One of the attackers, 20 at the time of the offence, appealed against his conviction and sentence, but this was dismissed.
Last year it was reported that crime in Malaysia rose 11.1% in 2024, largely driven by assaults and property-related offences.
Reported rapes increased by 12.1 per cent to 1,899 while robberies decreased by 6.8%.
