Rapist evades jail term, marries 14-year-old girl

A Malaysian man who raped a 14-year-old girl avoided being jailed after he married the young victim, sparking calls from angry activists for legal reforms on Thursday.

A court in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo island ruled last week there was “no necessity to proceed further with this case” following evidence that the two were married, the Borneo Post news website reported.

The victim, now 15, was allegedly raped twice by Ahmad Syukri Yusuf, in his twenties, last year. Rape in Malaysia carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and whipping.

Activists say such cases are not uncommon in the conservative Muslim-majority country, where sometimes victims’ families would rather a girl marry her rapist instead of her name being tarnished in court.