A 49-year-old Chinese single mother who survived a sexual assault case was left shocked and distressed after her attacker’s charges were downgraded from rape to lesser offences of intentional molestation and use of force, resulting in the perpetrator being fined only RM10,000.
The incident prompted Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng to call on the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), Datuk Seri Azalina, to assist the survivor in seeking an explanation from the Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.
Lim said the Attorney General must clarify why the charge reduction occurred without notifying the victim, emphasizing that the victim, Luo Huiwen, had sought clarification after learning her attacker’s original Section 376 rape charge at a Petaling Jaya Sessions Court in Selangor was quietly reduced to Section 354—assault intending to outrage modesty, and the case resolved with just a RM10,000 fine.
The charge was downgraded after the AG’s office accepted a plea letter submitted by the perpetrator, and Luo had no knowledge of this change beforehand. In a letter dated January 9, Luo stated that the reduction did not reflect the severity of the crime nor acknowledge the pain, suffering, and trauma she endured.
Lim said, “Hearing Luo say that she felt unprotected, unsafe, unheard, and marginalised is heartbreaking. This is truly a tragedy.”
He added that while the AG has absolute discretion under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution to prosecute, withdraw, or reduce charges, Luo’s courage in publicly revealing her identity to seek justice deserves a reasonable explanation.
Lim stressed that the government has a legal and moral duty to ensure Malaysian women’s basic rights to safety and security and to severely punish anyone who threatens or harms them.
“Luo deserves not only society’s sympathy and support, but also the truth and a full explanation regarding the decision that affects her and her family’s suffering, fear, and trauma,” he said.
