Think of the victims' rights also, Chief Justice Mohd Raus Sharif said when asked why he wanted all court cases of sexual crimes against children to be disposed within a year.

Justice Raus said while one acknowledged the rights of an accused to a fair trial, one also had to bear in mind the rights of the victim too.

“In some (child sexual crime) cases, if a case takes years, then there is a possibility the victim may not be able to recount the episode.

“If the cases take years, the victim may also want to marry but will have to relive the bad experience again in court. How would it affect the marriage?

“Hence, while courts should look after the accused rights, we have to importantly consider the rights of child sexual victims in having to testify,” he told reporters...