Delivered last week, the court ruling prompted fury from women's rights groups. Ann Teo, vice-president of the Kuching-based Sarawak Women for Women Society, said accused rapists should be prevented from marrying their victims. "It sends a message a person will be freed from his charge if he enters into this kind of marriage of convenience with the girl," Teo said. Globally, 15 million girls are married before the age of 18 each year according to campaign group Girls Not Brides. "There is usually a high risk in this kind of cases that these girls will be subject to a lifetime of sexual abuse.

Source: Standard Digital August 03, 2016 12:22 UTC