The government has no plans to make marital rape a crime because of problems of proving the case in court, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin.

He said such cases, if brought to court, often ended with the accused being discharged, instead of convicted.

“That is why, the government, taking into account all factors, feels it is not the time yet to make marital rape a crime.

“However, if there are cases involving domestic violence, Section 375A of the the Penal Code is applied to protect the rights of women,” he said in response to an oral question from Maria Chin Abdullah (PH-Petaling Jaya) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

- Bernama