AG: 321 jailed for sex offences

CLINT CHAN TACK

ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi yesterday disclosed that in the last 16 years, 2002 to 2018, only 321 people have been imprisoned for sexual offences. He said this during his contribution to debate on a motion to approve the Administration of Justice (DNA) Regulations 2018 in the House of Representatives. Al-Rawi also said 13,630 sexual offence cases were reported between 2002 to 2018 and none of these were solved through the use of DNA.

He said $23 billion has been spent over the last 19 years and the country is no closer to implementing the DNA laws on its books.

“What is the purpose of passing law if not to sit down and operationalise it?” he asked.

Al-Rawi said the implementation of the regulations would go a long way with respect to using DNA to deal with several matters, including sexual offence cases.