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Mother charged for false report after alerting cops of child sex abuse
Published:  Jul 13, 2018 12:25 PM
Updated: 4:36 AM

A single mother has reportedly been charged for lodging a false police report, after going to the cops over her child's complaints of being sexually abused.

The case under Section 182 of the Penal Code was mentioned at the Shah Alam magistrate court today, according to Malay Mail.

The mother, 36, lamented the charge against her, saying it punished parents for reporting suspected abuse.

“A parent should never have to feel afraid to come forward and report abuse of their children, sexual or not," the mother was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO).

"This has been nothing more than the abuse of our justice system, and does not protect the child,” she added.

Malaysiakini is withholding the mother's name to protect the identity of the child.

The WAO also expressed outrage over the incident, saying it could set a negative precedent that discourages parents or others from reporting about child sexual abuse.

The WAO highlighted that under the Child Act and Sexual Offences Against Children Act, there is a compulsion for those who believe there is abuse to lodge a report.

It is an offence under the act if a person aware of such abuse does not lodge a report.

The WAO, together with the Association of Women Lawyers, and the Voice of Children have appointed lawyers to hold a watching brief over the case.

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