Govt collecting evidence for 'watertight case' over child marriage in Kelantan

KUALA LUMPUR: Criminal action has yet to be taken against the 41-year-old man who wedded a 11-year-old girl in Kelantan recently as the government is collecting further evidences for a "watertight case".
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government wishes to obtain more information on the case before prosecuting the imam of a village in Gua Musang.
She said while the matter has been brought up to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), there was not enough proof to open a criminal case against him under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
"We have discussed the matter with the AGC on possibly prosecuting the suspect for sexual grooming. But according to them, there needs to be more evidences.
"I can't speak at length on the issue now because we want a strong case. We want this to be a test case, and set a precedence for similar cases in the future," she said when delivering her motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament, here, today.
"The thing is the parents of the girl had told my officers that they are a functional family. This is why I find that investigation needed to be conducted more thoroughly so that we can have a watertight case.
"We must not allow similar cases any more, period," she added.
Wan Azizah was responding to a question by former minister in charge of law Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on whether the government was willing to investigate the case for sexual crime.
Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto also said the man had admitted interest in him since she was 7-year-old, and that he had groomed her into marrying him.
Wan Azizah said any actions that are to be taken must be based on evidences, and not on media reports or hearsay.
The case became viral and grabbed national headline after news of the man's marriage with the 11-year-old were circulated on social media by his second wife.
Wan Azizah, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, however refused to comment further on the matter when pressed by the opposition bench, saying investigation was still ongoing.