Suspects in the disappearance of the now rescued 6yo Johor girl may face up to 10 years in jail & fine for kidnapping
Our country was rocked recently by the distressing case of a 6-year-old girl who went missing at the Eco Galleria business centre in Iskandar Puteri, Johor on Saturday (20 July). The girl, Albertine Leo Jia Hui had disappeared around 7.15pm during the Bon Odori festival held at the business centre and prompted a nationwide search by the authorities and civilians alike.
Just over 24 hours later, Johor Police Chief CP M. Kumar in a statement announced that there has been development in the case, with 3 individuals aged between 28 and 55 being arrested to assist in the investigation. He further revealed that Albertine’s disappearance has been reclassified as kidnapping, further raising the concerns among Malaysians.
Thankfully, just a few hours later, the amazing folks at the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) successfully located Albertine and rescued her from a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor, some 370km away from where she was last seen.
Furthermore, PDRM has also arrested 2 other individuals in connection with the apparent kidnapping. 1 suspect is a woman in her 40s who was arrested in Iskandar Puteri, while the other is a 31-year-old man who was with the victim when she was rescued. All 5 suspects have been remanded by the police.
So, what punishment awaits these suspects for their involvement in this shocking case? Well, join us as we delve into the relevant laws on the matter below.
Offences related to kidnapping in the Penal Code
Based on what has been reported about the case, including the statements issued by PDRM, the victim is believed to have been kidnapped, though the motive behind it has yet to be determined as of the time of writing.
Accordingly, the most relevant provisions related to kidnapping in Malaysia are prescribed by the Penal Code. Specifically, the most relevant provision related to the case is Section 365 of the Penal Code below:
Should the suspects be charged and convicted under this provision, they may face up to 7 years in jail and a fine.
Besides that, Section 367 of the Penal Code below may also be relevant to the case:
Accordingly, should the suspects be charged and convicted under this provision, they may face up to 10 years in jail and be liable to a fine.
Kidnapping a person in order that they be subjected to the unnatural lust of any person as prescribed in Section 367 of the Penal Code may be relevant as according to PDRM, the case is also being investigated under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 due to the physical contact with the child.
Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017
As the police is also investigating the case under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, the suspects may also face punishment under the provision:
Should they be convicted under this provision, the suspects can be punished with imprisonment of up to 20 years and be liable to whipping.
With that being said, PDRM’s amazing personnel deserve all the praise for their determination and swift action in saving Albertine and apprehending all the suspects in this apparent kidnapping case.
Moving forward, let’s hope that the suspects face the full brunt of the law for their alleged actions. In the meantime, it’s important for everyone to remain calm and let justice take its course.
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