A special court to help solve criminal cases involving foreign tourists as victims, witnesses or offenders in Sabah and Sarawak needs to be established as soon as possible.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Richard Malanjum said the special court would expedite criminal cases involving foreign tourists in the two states.

"We're in the midst of efforts to establish this special court. For the time being, I urge the legal practitioners in Sabah and Sarawak to try solve claims by foreign tourists so that they do not have to wait for months," he said after launching Sabah and Sarawak Legal Year, Kota Kinabalu, today.

Malanjum said last year, 34 tourists in Sarawak and four in Sabah were prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court for various offences.

- Bernama