Acquittal of Female Offender of Sexual Assault Charges

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Home Affairs in light of a recent High Court judgment which acquitted a female offender of sexual assault charges, whether the Ministry will consider amending section 376A(1)(b) and other non-gender neutral sections of the Penal Code.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will amend the law so that sexual penetration will apply to female offenders; and (b) whether the Ministry will review all laws on sexual offences to make them gender-neutral.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Prosecution has filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision in the recent case of Public Prosecutor v Zunika Binte Ahmad.

MHA will await the outcome of the appeal before considering our next steps.