Intervene in 3 Myanmar children’s case, rights group urges Suhakam

The High Court intervened to reverse the decision of the Bukit Mertajam Magistrates Court, granting bail to three Myanmar children aged 11 to 12, who had been charged with criminal intimidation. Tenaganita, a rights group, has urged the Suhakam Children's Commission to intervene in the case, ensuring the children receive legal and psychosocial support.

The group emphasized the need to strengthen child-sensitive procedures to prevent unnecessary detention or degrading treatment. Concerns over the use of restraints, initial detention, and language interpretation have raised questions about the proper observation of child-sensitive procedures and legal safeguards. Tenaganita executive director Glorene A Das welcomed the High Court's decision to grant bail, but stated that the fear, humiliation, and trauma experienced by the children should not be overlooked.

Das acknowledged that investigations must take place and that victims deserve justice, but stressed that justice should never come at the expense of children's fundamental rights and dignity. She questioned whether Malaysian children from privileged backgrounds would have been treated similarly. The three children were charged with threatening a 71-year-old woman with objects such as a mop, an iron rod, a fluorescent light tube, and stones, outside a house in Bukit Mertajam on October 22.

The Magistrates Court initially denied bail despite Deputy Public Prosecutor Zulfadzli Hassan proposing RM4,000 bail per child. The High Court in Butterworth reversed this decision, allowing the children to be released on bail. Further details about the case are expected to be provided by the Malaysian Bar in the coming week.