Bowler statutory rape: sex consensual, court says

KUALA LUMPUR - The five-year good behaviour bond judgment given in the controversial statutory rape case involving 21 year old former national youth bowler Noor Afizal Azizan and a 13 year old girl was justified because sex was consensual, the Court of Appeal ruled.

Court of Appeal president Justice Raus Sharif said that the defendant had not 'tricked the girl into submitting to him' and no violence was involved .

This declaration is bound to incite more controversy for the case, which saw public outrage following the August 8 verdict to allow Afizal's appeal.

The High Court had earlier sentenced Afizal to a five year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13 year old girl, although this judgment was then overturned following an appeal by Afizal, leading to the Court of Appeal to suspend the sentence in favour of a five-year good behaviour bond.

Many believe that leniency was applied in Afizal's case because of his standing as a national bowler. A three-judge panel cited that public interest would not be served in jailing the 21 year old, bringing up Afizal's 'bright future in sports'.

MSN Malaysia readers were vocal in their overwhelming opposition to the verdict. Some of the following comments regarding the case include:

How can a 13 year old girl even know what she is agreeing to? Are judges now sick? How are we to uphold our law if Judges take crime lightly? I think ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT CRIMES ARE FLOURISHING IN this country are because we have judges who are WEAK. -- rightofvictim

Has the girl a bright future too, your honor?? -- ERLISH

Outrageous! Even a world boxing champion was jailed in the US for his trysts with a woman under the age of consent. Oops, but then it was a different court. -- choun young

So what is the message we are getting here? If you show promise in sport, you are above the law? -- Sar3 Ong