Police form special team to probe Filipinas sexual abuse claim

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The federal police Criminal Investigations Department has formed a special team to probe a 13-year-old Filipina's claim of being sexually abused at an illegal immigrants detention centre in Sabah.

The team was formed barely 24 hours after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad called for an immediate investigation into the matter.

A Bernama report today quoted CID director Salleh Mat Som as saying that the investigation will be given utmost priority.

The senior police officer told reporters this after meeting Consul-General of the Philippine embassy in Malaysia, Luiz T Cruz, at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Salleh said the team will conduct an in-depth investigation into the matter. "We will concentrate on the team's report. We have to determine if [the allegation] is true or false," he said.

Cooperation required

He added that the Malaysian police is also hoping that the Philippine government will extend its cooperation, namely in locating the girl who may be required to identify the culprits.

Salleh said cooperation was important in the event the team has to go to the Philippines to record the girl's statement or bring her here.

The CID chief said based on information obtained, the girl is currently in Zamboanga City.

Asked when the investigation is expected to be completed, Salled replied that the police want the case to be wrapped up as soon as possible.

"We hope the investigation will be completed swiftly and we are sure that the Philippine government expects the same," he said.

The special team will be headed by the special investigations unit chief Takbir Ahmad Nazir who will be assisted by officials from the legal and sexual offences divisions.

Yesterday, Mahathir said that an investigation must be launched immediately and that the perpetrators brought to justice.

"The Malaysian government and I personally view with serious concern the allegations made by a Filipino minor [name] that she was a victim of sexual abuse in one of the detention centres in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah," said the premier.

Mahathir said this after receiving a letter from Arroyo on Wednesday expressing outrage over the alleged incident.

Thousands of Filipino and other illegal migrants have been leaving Sabah in droves in recent weeks due to a crackdown by the authorities.

Testimonies being gathered

Meanwhile, an AFP report today said that Philippine officials are interviewing recent deportees from Malaysia for accounts of alleged rape by Malaysian officials to be used as evidence in any future criminal cases.

The country's Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said the testimonies of the deportees were being gathered by the justice and social welfare departments and would eventually be turned over to the foreign office for transmission to "Malaysian authorities, including especially Mahathir Mohamad for their information".

"This is the evidence they require in order to act at their own end against so-called abuses and maltreatment," he was quoted as saying.



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