court for children

Question 1

introduction

Answer 1

► Established under the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), s. 11 to:
• (1) hear, determine or dispose any charge against a child; or
• (2) exercise any other jurisdiction conferred by this Act or any other written law.

Question 2

who is a child

Answer 2

See S. 2(1) of the Child Act 2001 (“CA”)
(a) A person under the age of 18
(b) In relation to criminal proceedings, a person who has attained the age of criminal responsibility under s. 82 Penal Code

Question 3

s82 penal code

Answer 3

Nothing is an offence which is done by a child under ten years of age.

Question 4

s83 of the penal code

Answer 4

Nothing is an offence which is done by a child above ten years of age and under twelve, who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge of the nature and consequence of his conduct in that occasion.

Question 5

s. 82 PC: Children below 10

Answer 5

Is given absolute protection against criminal liability on the grounds that they lack sufficient maturity and understanding on the nature and consequences of their action.

Question 6

s. 83 PC: Children 10-12

Answer 6

Children 10-12 years of age are also considered not to have sufficient maturity and understanding on their action but this presumption is rebuttable. If it is proved that the child does not understand the nature and consequence of the crime, he will not be liable.

Question 7

s11

Answer 7

s.11(2): magistrate
-Advisor 1
-Advisor 2
s.11(3): 1 advisor must be a woman
>
Appointed by the Minister
>
s.11(4)(a)-(b):
functions of advisors

Question 8

s11(5)

Answer 8

A Court for Children shall have jurisdiction to try all offences except offences punishable with death.

Question 9

case to try all offences except death

Answer 9

PP v Buri Hemma [1998]

Question 10

Place of Sitting: s. 12

Answer 10

• (1) A Court for Children shall, if practicable, sit – • (a) either in a different building or room that in
which sittings of other courts are held; or
• (b) on different days than those of other courts.
• (2) if CFC is placed in the same building with other courts, the CFC shall have a different entrance and exit to enable the children to be brought in and out the court with privacy.

Question 11

Who may be present: s. 12(3)

Answer 11

(a)Members and officers of the Court; (b)The children who are parties to the case, their
parents, guardians, advocates and witnesses, and other persons directly concerned in that case; and such other responsible persons as may be determined by the Court.

Question 12

criminal proceedings in CFC;procedure

Answer 12

1. S83
   s84
   s85
   s86
   s87
   s88
   s90
   s91
   s92-94
   s96
   s97
   s98-104
   s105-108

Question 13

Procedure: S. 83

Answer 13

• (1) a child who is alleged to have committed an offence must be arrested, detained or tried in accordance with the CA 2001;
• (2) When a child is charged with an offence before a CFC and during the pendency of the case, he attains the age of 18, the CFC shall continue to hear the case;
• (3) When an offence is committed by a child when he was below 18 but the charge is made after he has attained the age of 18, then the charge shall be heard in other courts – see PP v Mohd Turmizy bin Mahdzir & anor [2007] 6 MLJ 462;
• (4) A charge jointly made against a child and a person who has attained the age of 18 shall be heard by other Court – See PP v Ramli Long [1993].

Question 14

Section 83(1) Child Act

Answer 14

• Public Prosecutor v N (A Child) [2004] 2 MLJ 299; Issue
- whether the dentention of a child for pueposes of investigation should be under the child act 2001 or undur s117 of the criminal procedute code CFC

Question 15

In Public Prosecutor v N (A Child) [2004] 2 MLJ 299

Answer 15

the Court of Appeal held that section 117 of Criminal Procedure Code was applicable to a child.
• According to the Court of Appeal:
“…section 83(1) of the Act was contained in Part IX of the Act that dealt with ‘Criminal Procedure in Court for Children’ and not for the investigation of offences alleged to be committed by a child. As such the word ‘detention’ in s 83(1) of the Act should be construed as not being intended to include detention pending investigation.”

Question 16

s83A

Answer 16

• “Tangkapan”
• 83A. (1) – seorang kanak-kanak yang ditangkap tidak
boleh digari melainkan jika:
• (a) kesalahan yang kerananya dia ditangkap ialah jenayah berat; atau
• (b) kanak-kanak itu menentang dengan kekerasan usaha untuk menangkapnya atau cuba untuk mengelakkan tangkapan itu.”
• (2)…
• (3)…
• (4)…

Question 17

s84

Answer 17

• (1) If a child is arrested with or without a warrant, the child shall be brought before a CFC within 24 hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the CFC;
• (2) If it is not possible to do that, the child shall be brought before a Magistrate who may direct that the child be remanded in a place of detention until such time as the child can be brought before the CFC-

• (3) When a child is brought before a CFC, the CFC shall release the child on a bond, with or without sureties – EXCEPTIONS:
• (a) the charge is one of murder or other grave crime;
• (b) it is necessary in the best interests of the child arrested to remove him from association with any undesirable person; or
• (c) the CFC has reason to believe that the release of the child would defeat the ends of justice.
27/09/2022
20

Question 18

Procedure: S. 85(a) (amended 2016)

Answer 18

2022
“Perkiraan sewajarnya hendaklah dibuat-
(a) Untuk menghalang seseorang kanak-kanak semasa-
(i) Dibawa ke atau dari balai polis atau tempat tahanan;
(ii) Ditahan dibalai polis atau ditempat tahanan;
(iii)Dibawa ke atau dari mana-mana Mahkamah; atau
(iv)Menunggu sebelum atau selepas hadir dimana- mana Mahkamah,
Daripada bergaul dengan seseorang dewasa yang dipertuduh atas sesuatu kesalahan”

Question 19

s85(b)

Answer 19

• “untuk memastikan bahawa seseorang kanak- kanak, jika seorang perempuan, semasa ditahan atau dibawa sedemikian, atau menunggu, berada di bawah jagaan seorang wanita.”

Question 20

Section 85(c) amended 2016

Answer 20

“(c) untuk menghalang gambar seseorang kanak-kanak semasa –
(i) ditangkap;
(ii) dibawa ke atau dari balai polis atau tempat tahanan;
(iii) ditahan dibalai polis atau di tempat tahanan;
(iv) dibawa ke atau dari mana-mana Mahkamah; atau
(v) menunggu sebelum atau selepas hadir dimana-mana Mahkamah,
Daripada dirakam dalam apa-apa cara atas pita atau filem atau dengan apa-apa perantara elektronik.”

Question 21

s86

Answer 21

• (1) if the child is not released on bail under s. 84, the CFC before whom the child is brought shall cause him to be detained in a place of detention provided under this Act until he can be brought before the Court having jurisdiction unless the CFC certifies that:
(a) it is impracticable to do so;
(b) he is of so unruly or depraved character that he cannot be safely so detained;
(c) by reason of his state of health or his mental or bodily condition it is inadvisable to so to detain him.
(2) In the above circumstances, the child may be detained in –
(a) a police station, police cell or lock-up, separate from adults; or
(b) in a mental hospital.

Question 22

s87-88

Answer 22

After arrest-s87(a) DELETED
s88
(1)if a child is charged in CFC, parents/guardian must attend
(2) failure to do so, shall be liable to a fine or imprisonment

Question 23

Procedure: S. 90 - trial procedure

Answer 23

(1) Court to explain substance of the alleged offence
>
(3) Ask if the child admits the facts on the offence charged

YES

(4)(a)(b) confirm child’s understanding and record a finding of guilt

NO

(5) Proceed with trial

Question 24

Powers of CFC on proof of offence : S. 91

Answer 24

See sec. 91(1) (a) – (h)
S. 91(1)(h): CFC may impose imprisonment sentence that could be awarded by a Sessions Court for a child aged 14 years and above and the offence is punishable with imprisonment but this is subject to s. 96(2) CA (see PP v Mohd Turmizy bin Mahdzir [2007] 6 MLJ 642

Question 25

other matters

Answer 25

s91

• (2) Cannot use the words “conviction” or “sentence”; use finding of guilt;
•See PP v The Offender [1998]; Khairuddin v PP [1968]; PP v Azmadi Aznan [2012]

s96

• (2) Child over 14 shall not be imprisoned if he can be better dealt with in another way e.g. sending him to Henry Gurney School.
• (3) If imprisoned, shall not mix with adults.

s97

•(1) Death sentenced cannot be pronounced if the offence was committed when he was a child;
• (2) In lieu of death sentence, child detained in prison at the pleasure of the YDPA or Ruler of a State.

Question 26

Section 97(2)(a) &(b) Child Act

Answer 26

“In lieu of a sentence of death, the Court shall order a person convicted of an offence to be detained in a prison during the pleasure of – (a) the YDPA if the offence was committed in the Federal Territory or the FT of Labuan; (b) the Ruler or the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri, if the offence was committed in the State.”

Question 27

case for Section 97(2)(a) &(b) Child Act

Answer 27

Kok Wah Kuan v Pengarah Penjara Kajang [2004] 5 MLJ 193
Puganeswaran a/l Ganeson v PP [2020] MLJU 1309

See also Nagarujun a/l Arjunan v PP [2021] 2 MLJ 599; Nguyen Duan Nhan v PP & Anor Appeal [2018] MLJU 1490

Question 28

sec. 97A

Answer 28

Perintah Khidmat Masyarakat
“97A. (1) Jika Mahkamah Bagi Kanak-Kanak yang olehnya atau di hadapannya seorang kanak-kanak didapati bersalah atas sesuatu kesalahan, berpendapat bahawa adalah patut untuk Mahkamah itu berbuat demikian, Mahkamah Bagi Kanak-Kanak boleh membuat suatu perintah yang mengkehendaki kanak-kanak itu untuk melaksanakan khidmat masyarakat tidak melebihi 120 jam secara agregat dalam tempoh tidak melebihi 6 bulan, pada bila-bila masa dan dimana-mana tempat sebagaimana yang dinyatakan oleh Mahkamah Bagi Kanak-Kanak.”

Question 29

Some cases on sentencing power of CFC

Answer 29

PP v Sharithan a/l Pachemuthi
PP v Saiful Afikin bin Mohd Firus
PP v Low Hai Voon
PP v SAK (the child) [2021] 1MLJU 1701

PP v The Offender
KN (a child) & Anor v PP [2022] 8 MLJ 191