THE government could prosecute the 41-year-old man who took an 11-year-old bride in June under the Child Sexual Offences Act, said Azalina Othman Said.

The former minister in the prime minister’s department was speaking today on a panel on child sexual abuse at the International Malaysia Law Conference.

“If you look at the wording of the sexual offences act, it is adequate enough to go after the so-called husband,” Azalina said.

Earlier today, the police completed their investigation into the marriage and handed the papers to the attorney-general.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had said that they were “investigating” the marriage.

However, when the bill was first debated last year, Azalina reportedly said touching a child was illegal, but when “they are married, touching is legal and is not a crime under this bill”.

The BN MP for Pengerang today said that her previous remarks did not mean that they could not prosecute the man for grooming.

“Under articles 11-14, my belief is that, while they can try to use marriage as a defence, the law allows them to prosecute”, she said.

The child bride is now under the custody of Thai authorities, as the marriage was initially conducted in Thailand. – August 16, 2018.