I WAS upset after reading your report “Teens should be put in rehabilitation facilities” (NST, May 22) where the women, family and community development minister revealed that about 3,000 children below 18 years of age were imprisoned together with hardcore adult criminals.

This is the third time the problem of children remanded and sentenced to prison for trivial offences has been highlighted. The first occasion was on Sept 19, 2000 and the second on Dec 6, 2006.

It appears that this problem has been ignored for a long time now. The hue and cry created on the two previous occasions by the Social Welfare Department, Malaysian Bar, law minister and Suhakam died down and now it’s back to square one.

A number of officers are involved when a case is heard in the Juvenile Court. They include the welfare officer, the prosecuting officer from the police, two advisers and the parents.

To blame inexperienced judges and magistrates for this blunder of children being sent to prison meant for adults is an unfair accusation. The welfare officer and the prosecuting officer are equally responsible for this blunder because if they are experienced and thorough with the Child Act 2001, they could have advised the magistrate under Section 91 (1) (a)-(h) of the Act, so that the child would not be sent to prison.

The problem of untrained welfare officers was highlighted by the then director of welfare services last year.

I hope the authorities will give this matter serious thought and find ways to help these children whose future would be marred if they continue to be in prison together with hardcore adult criminals.

K.N. DAMODARAN, Kota Tinggi

Source: NST – May 30, 2008