Earlier in August this year, 22-year-old electrician Chuah Guan Jiu was released on a RM25,000 bond of good behavior for three years by the Session Court for raping an underage girl. The said underage girl was his then girlfriend and she was only 12 years old. And he got away with it (almost) scot-free
The Sessions Court’s decision drew widespread criticism from women and civil rights groups, on top of an explosion on all social media and news platforms regionally. The fact that his case followed national ten-pin bowler’s Noor Afizal Azizan’s rape incident so closely didn’t contribute to anyone being in his favour, or in the court’s decision’s favour, for that matter.
Source: Sun Daily
And just today, local news have reported that the High Court in George Town, Penang has overturned the initial decision of the bond and has ordered Chuah Guan Jiu to serve a jail term of five and a half years. Yes, the said rapist has finally been sentenced!
Justice Datuk Seri Zakaria Sam, who imposed the final verdict upon Chuah Guan Jiu said, “You should know the risks under the law and be ready to face the consequences. You cannot claim consent in court. An adult like you having sex with a 12-year-old is a manipulator. She trusted you but you took advantage of her. Instead of sending her to school you took her home and had sex. In statutory rape, consent is irrelevant. A female under 16 is deemed incapable of giving consent under the law. Even if she had submitted, you knew she was underaged and had the choice to reject her”. (Source)
“Young girls need to be protected from manipulators like you”, he added. (Source)
Well said, Justice Zakaria. And yes, justice is served. Now, what about Noor Afizal Azizan?