Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017

Brief Description

The Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017  (Act 792) was passed by Parliament in April 2017 and came into force in June 2017. The Act addresses several main areas namely child pornography, sexual grooming, physical and non-physical sexual assaults, abuse position of trust, credibility and evidence of children. This effectively widens the definition of sexual abuse in Malaysian law. This Act aims at addressing the seriousness of sexual offences committed against children in Malaysia by providing better protection for children against sexual offences, safeguard for the interest and well-being of children and deterrence for these offences. In order to ensure effective administration of justice in relation to cases of this nature, the Act 792, among others, makes provision for presumption as to the competency of child witnesses in giving evidence. The court also may convict any person who commits an offence under this Act on the basis of uncorroborated evidence of a child under oath and the evidence of agent provocateur.