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Incest crisis: Biological fathers linked to 60pct of cases, police data show

PETALING JAYA: The rise in incest cases is alarming, with 996 incidents reported since 2021 up to October this year, and worryingly, some victims are as young as six, often targeted by family members, particularly their biological fathers.

Most incidents occur at home, Kosmo reported, linked to perpetrators struggling with sex addiction, pornography, and financial issues.

Bukit Aman's Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) principal assistant director Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan said that this is a concerning trend with 245 cases reported in 2021, increasing to 264 in 2022, 275 in 2023, and 212 so far this year.

"When perpetrators neglect their responsibilities as heads of households, they lose control over their urges.

"Most cases involve low-income families with limited education, and parents often fail to provide guidance on religion, morals, and affection to their children," Kosmo quoted her saying.

Siti Kamsiah said that many perpetrators seek to satisfy their desires at home, with children becoming victims due to a lack of resources for entertainment or access to sex workers.

She added that biological fathers account for nearly 60 per cent of incest cases.

From 2021 to October 2024, there were 303 cases involving biological fathers, followed by 297 with stepfathers and 164 with uncles.

Victims primarily consist of teenagers aged 13 to 15, who represent 443 cases — almost half of the total 1,032 reported during this period.

In one troubling case, Siti Kamsiah said a victim was manipulated by her father from a young age, who falsely claimed their relationship was acceptable.

The perpetrator said he could restore her virginity through traditional methods, resulting in ongoing abuse into adulthood.

Although her peers eventually informed her that the situation was wrong, she chose not to report it out of sympathy for her father.

"Ultimately, it was her mother, unable to bear the situation, who took action to place her in a shelter," said Siti Kamsiah.

She added that some perpetrators reoffend despite previous prison sentences, citing a case of a father who, after serving 16 years for raping his biological child, returned to commit similar acts against his grandchildren.

She asked community leaders, including village heads and mosque imams, to remain vigilant in identifying local issues.

"Additionally, the police are implementing special approaches like outreach programmes in public housing projects (PPR) and among the B40 group to engage children effectively," Siti Kamsiah added.

She said that successful prevention efforts rely on collaboration from all parties involved.

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