A serial rapist returns after completing his 24-year jail sentence in Canada, where the crimes were committed. Being Malaysian, he was immediately deported upon release from prison, and he arrived here yesterday morning from Toronto. Upon arrival, Bukit Aman officials from the Sexual Crime Unit whisked him to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Immigration Operations Centre to have his statement recorded, before he was escorted from the terminal. As expected, there was much negativity expressed on social media by his countrymen, with some urging that he be denied entry, notwithstanding his citizenship. This is social stigma at work, and it began before his return. In a sense, it is well deserved and works to deter others from committing crimes, similar and otherwise, but a citizen has rights and that principle must be protected irrespective.
Selva Kumar Subbiah was found guilty of 19 counts of sexual assault, 28 counts of administering noxious substances, 10 counts of various assaults and a dozen other charges, and his case is deemed one of the worst serial sexual assaults in Canada. It would not be a surprise if this is not too far off a world record. Naturally, therefore, Malaysians reject his return, for fear that he could easily be a repeat offender. That Canada is unforgiving in its decision to deport him is evidence of this same fear.
But, he has paid for his crime. He was denied his liberty — the 24 years in prison was handed down by a court of law that considered it appropriate. As the law dictates, once such an “atonement” is made, the individual regains not only his liberty, but his rights, and that includes not being harassed, not even by the police, without due cause. Like other criminals who have done their time, his space must be respected. And, like other ex-convicts, he will face a hard time trying to fend for himself, for only a Good Samaritan would risk giving him employment and a chance to rebuild his life. As convention would have it, this is indeed punishment.
Of course, his freedom is not without sanctions. Much like others in the same position, the law is ever mindful of his whereabouts. When a sexual assault occurs, he will, no doubt, be a leading suspect. His life is never going to be the same again. The public cannot, therefore, allow their prejudice to get the better of them. To have fear of such a man is justifiable, because one can never be sure that he is rehabilitated, or that the dangerous urges pushing him to crime have been cleansed away over the years in prison.
Stories abound of repeat sexual offences. An American research shows that 5.3 per cent of sexual offenders were rearrested for sexual crimes within three years of their release. The American Supreme Court has interpreted this recidivist tendency as a mental health problem and sentences of prolonged incarceration have been handed down. It has also been shown that castration, whether physical or chemical, does not eliminate libido totally. It is merely reduced and can be restored by hormone treatment. As for Selva Kumar, not until he attacks another woman can the law deny him his freedom. Until then, women, be aware and beware.