On Jan 9, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by another inmate while being held in a police lock-up at the Miri police station. The girl was reportedly taken out of her cell by the inmate and then raped in the station’s toilet.

The case, highlighted by DAP senator Alan Ling, allegedly took place between 4am and 5am, a day after the teenager was picked up in a gambling raid.

Bukit Assek assemblyman Irene Chang said rape was an offence which cannot be committed in seconds nor can it be committed without any physical struggle in most cases, which would surely have alerted those nearby due to the commotion.

“It is therefore inconceivable that the incident could happen under the so-called supervision of these officers without anyone coming to the help of the victim.

“Besides, how did the suspect, who was an inmate there, get a hold of the key to the girl’s lock-up and was able to commit the rape without attracting attention?

“What is most unacceptable, in this incident, was the fact that the suspect had the audacity to commit the offence in the police station, which is supposed to represent a place where law is upheld,” she said in a statement.

Chang said the incident was the reason why the public has no confidence in the police’s ability to protect them from harm or crimes committed against them.

She urged the police to investigate the case without fear or favour even against one of their own.

The police should also clarify why the closed-circuit television camera in the lock-up did not have a recording function, said Chang.