National athlete Noor Afizal skips jail after teen rape
Guilty as charged but free to go.
Public outrage has flooded the Internet after national athlete Noor Afizal Azizan was let off with a slap on the wrist—even after admitting to raping a teenage girl—because judges from the Court Of Appeal agreed with his defence lawyer that public interest wouldn't be served if he was sent to jail as he had a bright future as a sportsman.
Reactions on Facebook and Twitter to the news have been of shock and anger that the tenpin bowler had escaped his five-year jail sentence—handed down by the Malacca High Court last September after he was charged with the statutory rape of a minor—because he's a national athlete.
According to a report by Bernama, the Court Of Appeal allowed Noor Afizal's petition to restore an earlier decision by the Malacca Sessions Court that only bound him over for good behaviour for five years to the sum of RM25,000.
On Wednesday, a panel led by Court Of Appeal president Tan Sri Raus Md Sharif unanimously overturned a five-year jail term imposed on Noor Afizal by the Malacca High Court, which had allowed the prosecuting attorney to appeal for a tougher sentence against the sessions court's verdict.
In his judgement, Raus agreed with Noor Afizal's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik that public interest wouldn't be served if he were sent to jail because he had a bright future as a national athlete. Court Of Appeal judges Datuk KN Segara and Datuk Azhar Ma'ah also presided on the panel.
On 5th July last year, the Malacca Sessions Court bound over Noor Afizal for good behaviour to the sum of RM25,000, even after he confessed he was guilty of committing the crime with the under-aged girl at a hotel in Ayer Keroh between 12:30am and 5:00am a month before.
Among the factors considered by the sessions court in its decision was, apparently, the consensual sexual relationship between the 21-year-old bowler and the 13-year-old girl. But the public prosecutor appealed to the high court and won a five-year jail sentence on Noor Afizal on 2nd September.
Noor Afizal represented Negri Sembilan from 2004 to 2010 and played for Malaysia in the National Youth Category from 2004 to 2008. He's expected to bowl for Kedah in several upcoming tournaments, including the KL International Open Championship 2012.
Source: Bernama
Published: 9th August 2012
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Comments (135)
How can the sitting judges be so lenient with such a crime?
Had he not been a National athlete, he would have got the mandatory 5 years sentence plus rotan. Why should he not get the same sentence as anyone else? What the judges are saying is they condone such acts if it were committed by a National athlete? Why the double standards? Is this what they call justice in Malaysia?
The bar council should review this suspended sentence and put the rapist behind bars right now.
If not, he'll commit the same crime again on another poor unsuspecting underaged girl.
WAKE UP BAR COUNCIL OF MALAYSIA!
Where is justice? The Bar Council of Malaysia would be the laughing stock of the world and should be disbarred.
Consensual or not. Having sex with a minor is classified as statutory rape and punishable with jail term plus cane. Simple and straight forward. No exceptions. End of story.
Are we blinded by National pride? Come on Malaysia Bar Council, wake up!
Put the culprit behind bars with 5 strokes of cane. Let him learn his lesson.
I'm ashamed to be called a Malaysian if he's scott free.
In Shariah, the requirement for 4 witnesses is for a third party accuser. If I am A and I claim that sexual intercourse has taken place between B and C, then I am required to bring 4 witnesses. Otherwise, I will be convicted for slander.
But when a person claims to be a victim, she is not required to bring 4 witnesses. Evidence such as dna can be used to convict the perpetrator and judges must decide the appropriate punishment.
How about according to shariah law ? Also can be let off.....no 4 male witnesses to see the actual act of penetration. If follow shariah law, the girl ought to be punished for slander ?
How many time does Lindsay Lohan get arrested? (Well, it might have a slightly different scenario, but the whole system is the same).
She committed crimes, and she got arrested.
She has a bright future to be a star, making USA even more famous with its movies (in which she is good in it).
You know what? She's still arrested, and serves a long jail time.
The same thing goes to this rapist, where he does have a bright future, but he committed a crime.
He SHOULD be arrested for it.
SHOULD be.
SHOULD.
Should is a strong word.
MUST be
MUST
that's all. if u committed sex with a minor, that's call a rape.i'm convince he is not a rapist but an adulterer.
just a bowling athlete..meh!!
Previously, there was a coach who was punished by law, for molesting. Why not this guy?
What a .....
A man that always sponsor to orphanage and a rich man, might be a Datuk in future for its generous contribution, or a son that MIGHT , (MIGHT ONLY!!!!) be a future hero
FORBID FROM ANY SENTENCES> PLEASE COMMIT CRIME BECAUSE YOU ARE SAVE!
So I say:
Everyone have their future and talent, what the hell other people will be punished but not them?Because they are in the middle of somehow uncertain so called "talent" lor......
Situation 2:
A normal man, born in normal or middle income family member, commit crime.
Right into Jail , No bargain no future. No discusstion at all..
Fair or not Fair?
Good that we have his picture here. Can we also have pictures of his lawyer and the judges who agreed with the argument? I think it's in the public interest to know these so-called men and their shameless attitude towards rape and its victim.
The next thing you know malaysia will pass the act having sex with minor is okay so that more of our coirrupted politician able to screw younger girls!
I dont see any law here?
Now let's see how many other young women fall victim when the other national athletes realize they have immunity when they don their respective sports jerseys.
Now u guys know what sort clowns are running the country from top to bottom..
Is there anything we can do?
Dump him in jail and get rapes wth the boys there.
BOOOOOOO!!!
I dont mind when they say its consensual sex but when the judge let him off the hook just cus he is a national sportman and has a bright future..this is f bulls**t.
but then again what can i say..its a boleh land..
obviously our politicians have much better things to do like working hard for the upcoming elections...great isnt it..
Well done again to the leaders of Malaysia, once again you have helped us all feel very proud to be Malaysian - just in time for National and Malaysia Days.
I wonder if those judges have any children??
What is he rapes again? Will he be freed again due to his "bright future as a national athlete"?
Today, I feel malu to call myself a Malaysian.. No matter how many medals Malaysia win in sports.. the country's law fail miserably in protecting its rakyat..
We as Malaysian shall protest on this outcome..1million signatory to get royal enquiry and overthrown the outcome...
You will be the shame of Malaysian..
He should be banned to join any competition whatsover because he will bring nothing but shame to the country.
Does being an athlete giving a reason to escape the crime he commit? Seriously I rather having my country not ever winning any medal for sport competition if having a rapist to represent us... Bring nothing but shame
All the persons concern must be idiot&dongoai. Rape is rape u must be punish.
I am shocked at the decision, therefore I also question the judgement of our judicial system and will create a horrible precedence. Do they actually know what they are doing ? How can they even term this consensual ? She is a minor for godsake ! I am sure this is the happiest day for all pedophiles in Malaysia and all the bright people in Malaysia too...they have the license to rape ...and perhaps rob and kill too !
Even a president or prime minister is not above the law , so may I ask who is this so called athlete to be pardon for RAPING and oh ...RAPING a MINOR ? This will be marked as one of the most uncivilized and darkest day for Malaysia.
Tis is bolehland lah...if u r somebody, u get away with it.....if u r nobody, petty crimes oso penjara n rotan....memang memalukan, menjijikkan, menyahsueykan, mem-nobrainer-kan n wateveruwannasayitkan....
Tis is the muppet law...only in Malaysia....
No wonder the rich, well connected and influential can get away much, much more!!!
this is our beloved malaysia,
anything can happen.
and ONLY IN MALAYSIA.
happy merdeka!
I think most of us knows what actually happens....it's not about breaking the law or who broke the law..it's all about $$$$ and favors.
We have all voiced our dissatisfaction and anger here. But where will it take us?
I would really like to know what CAN we do about it. Is there anything or action that we can take to bring this issue to the higher authority or any way to overthrow the judges's verdic???
Malaysia oh Malaysia! Are you so desperate to win medals that like this go free?
Hakim! U bring shame on the nation by your verdict!
This might give precedence to other national athletes to freely break the law and escaping punishment just because it is in ''public interest''..Public interest for athletes to commit crimes?
Shameful on the judiciary system in Malaysia. And I wonder if this happened to the judge's own family members, the offender is still set free.
Malaysia has become a LAWLESS COUNTRY...SIGH..
I refused to believe and had full confidence that based on merits I will win. As events turned out, I lost and was sent to jail.
I have many reasons to feel aggrieved not least, "BIAR SALAH AMPUN, JANGAN SALAH HUKUM" should be the stance adopted by the courts.
If this acquittal is to send a signal, it is that the powers that be can decide any which way. To penalise and to acquit is at their total discretion.
Feel so disgusted reading this. What happen to the rape victim then? Her parents hope of justice for their daughter?
Seriously considering leaving this country that use to make me so proud not long time ago.
Before fixing the problem with the bowler, i think the judge who allowed such a thing should be locked up.
This round,it's can happen to his family ,wife or daughter!
Not only this athlete ,the person who agreed and handle this case!
The bright future of the rapist is safeguarded by the Appeal Court while the victim who happens to be only 15 years old has been tarnished. This is a miscarriage of justice. Besides there is no guarantee that the rapist will not repeat the henious acts to other underaged children and the safest place for him in the whole world is the prision.
in another countries, regardless how talent the person is, he will go to jail for such crime.
i guess overseas news wont be broadcasting such cheap news.
For this kinda law, our parents spending so much to send their kids to Law school/University??Better not den....