KOTA BHARU, Sept 29 — Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that the 15-year-old girl, who was discovered offering sexual services via Telegram in Pasir Puteh, has been placed under the care of the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
He explained that the decision was made after police evaluated her age and background, which includes a reported history of being a rape victim.
Mohd Yusoff elaborated that initial investigations found that the girl had been living with her father following her parents’ separation, indicating that the hardship and pressures of her family life may have led her to seek an outlet through these wrong means.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that someone exploited the girl’s dire situation. This case cannot be viewed merely as a criminal act; it requires a comprehensive rehabilitation approach,” he said after the investiture ceremony in conjunction with the 56th birthday of the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, at the Istana Balai Besar today.
The case came to light after a police report was filed last Saturday by a single mother who suspected her 15-year-old daughter was offering sexual services through the platform. — Bernama
* If you are experiencing sexual violence, the following hotlines offer free and confidential support: Talian Kasih at 15999 or WhatsApp 019-2615999 (24/7); All Women’s Action Society at 016-2374221/016-2284221 (9.30am-5.30pm); and Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) at 03-30008858 or SMS/WhatsApp TINA 018-9888058 (24/7)
