Surina (above) said, in the past, the public especially the victim’s parents and family members, chose to remain silent and not lodge any report out of embarrassment.

“In recent years, members of the public have come to realise that child sexual predators need to be punished, this has caused the number of cases reported to increase.

“This year, the number of cases related to paedophiles in Perlis increased by 38 percent compared to last year, this indicates that the public is no longer afraid or embarrassed to lodge a police report,” she told Bernama in Kangar.

Surina said paedophilia is a psychological disorder in which an adult individual tends to have a sexual attraction to children under the age of 13 and the victim’s age would be at least five years younger than the perpetrator or suspect.

She explained that under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, a police report and statement from the victim were enough to bring the suspect to court.

“The complainant does not need any witness or supporting documents or videos to prosecute the offender,” she said.

She added that the victims can give evidence behind the screen or by video-link as most victims are traumatised and unable to speak.

Surina said the police’s Criminal Investigation Department’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) will provide a psychologist to help the victim to explain the incident.

“Child guardians can also be subjected to legal action if they touch a child in a sexual manner even if it based on love,” she said.

Some common sexual offences committed by paedophiles are sodomy, sex with children under the age of 13, using children as an object of sexual desire and sexual abuse.

- Bernama