Prepare special SOP on sexual crime cases against children: Najib (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has called for the formation of a working committee to prepare a special Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to streamline cases involving sexual crimes against children.
"In an effort to fulfill this endeavour, the working committee comprising the judiciary, Attorney-General's Chambers, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, and children NGOs including Unicef needs to be formed to devise this SOP," he during his speech prior to officiating the Special Criminal Court handling cases involving sexual crimes against children at the Palace of Justice (PoJ), here, yesterday.
Najib said the special SOP has to fulfil the needs and wants of child witnesses, in line with the best practices implemented by other countries throughout the world.
"This court is the first of its kind, not only in our country but also for the South-East Asia region," he said.
The special court would focus on cases such as child pornography, child grooming and child sexual assault in tandem with the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 that was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on April 4.
Among those present at the launch were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Chief Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Dewan Negara speaker Datuk Seri S.A. Vigneswaran and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Najib also thanked Rosmah in her capacity as Permata patron for contributing to the various amenities contained in the special waiting room for child witnesses at the court.
The special waiting room launched by Rosmah also includes a smaller room for vulnerable young witnesses to testify in camera.
The special court which is located in the Annexe building of the PoJ, here, is equipped with court recording transcription system; a waiting room for child witnesses; live video link; child witness screens and disabled-friendly facilities.
Meanwhile, Md Rauf said the court will be hearing its first case on July 4 involving the rape of a minor.
"The special court will be hearing 56 cases transferred from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor with a senior Sessions judge specifically appointed to oversee them.
"In due time, this special court will gradually be expanded to all 13 states in the country," he told reporters following the event.
At present, he said former Klang Sessions judge Yong Zarida Sazali will be presiding the special court given her seniority and experience in handling similar cases in the past.