Police have detained an 11-year-old primary school boy in Kelantan, Malaysia to assist in an investigation after a 15-year-old girl, believed to be his cousin, was found to be pregnant.
It is also believed that it happened because of underage romance.
The case, which was reported in early April, involved both minors.
According to authorities, the teenage girl has been placed under the care of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) while police continue their investigation.
Underage and Incest Cases in the Kelantan State Increases
In a report by Sinar Harian, Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat expressed concern over the rising number of cases involving minors in the state.
He stated that most reported incidents in recent years involved youths who were underage and often related.
“Incest cases in Kelantan are very concerning, as every year the reported rape incidents involving minors are mostly due to mutual consent, not coercion,” he said during a press conference at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK).
In addition, he also shared that there were 252 cases recorded last year, compared to 206 case in 2023.
This year, from January to March alone, cases have already increased by 15.6% compared to the same period in 2024.
According to him, 98% of rape cases in the state occurred because of mutual consent.
Involved Children as Young as 10 Years Old
In another report by Sinar Daily, police shared that some of the girls involved were as young as 10, while some of the boys were only 11.
Authorities became aware of the situation after reports of underage pregnancies were filed by families and the Health Ministry.
Some of the cases involved pregnancies that were already several months along. Police also saw a troubling pattern, stating that there is a trend of young girls seeking out men.
Related Cases
Police highlighted several troubling incidents involving minors in the state:
- A 13-year-old girl was found to be expecting, with the person involved believed to be her uncle in his twenties.
- An 11-year-old boy impregnating his 15-year-old cousin.
- In certain cases, authorities said multiple men were involved, some up to 4 men, with reports suggesting that some of the girls “requested” the interactions.
Police added that there were situations where parents were aware that their underage daughters were even bringing boys to their homes and rooms.
Alarming Online Activity Among Youngsters
During their investigation, police examined teenage girls’ (involved in similar cases to this) mobile phones and discovered inappropriate photos and videos.
“Our findings also revealed that the girls were willing to record inappropriate photos or videos of themselves and share them with men they had just met through social media,” Datuk Mohd Yusoff said.
Root Causes Linked to Family and Surroundings
According to police, certain factors play significant roles in such cases.
This includes:
- family issues,
- peer influence,
- lack of education, and
- exposure to explicit content.
In some instances, substance use is also a factor.
Community Urged to Report Cases, Not Stay Silent
Police are urging parents, teachers, and leaders to be proactive in reporting any cases involving minors, especially within families.
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