'Permata room' for comfort of child witnesses

The special court to handle cases of sexual crimes against children is equipped with various facilities, including a waiting room for child witnesses.

The waiting room, named ''Permata Room'', was opened today by the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also patron of the Permata Programmes, in conjunction with the inauguration of the special court by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The ''Permata Room'', which is equipped with a television, computers and children''s games, also has a mini-library of reading materials suitable for children which were contributed by the Permata Foundation.

Najib, in his speech, said the facilities were necessary to ensure the comfort of the child victims when they attended the hearing of their cases.

"I am made to understand that the children''s facilities at this court are better than those in London, and hopefully, the standard can be maintained at other courts if the Permata Foundation is generous enough to provide more donations," he said.

Besides the ''Permata Room'', the special court is also equipped with a Court Recording and Transcription (CRT) system and facilities for people with disabilities.

A special room, which is installed with video-link facility, is also provided for ''vulnerable witness'' so that they can testify from the room which is accessible by the judge, the prosecutors and lawyers in the court room.

Najib said the proceedings at the special court would not be like in normal cases as there would be separate exits for the victims and accused.

The victims would also not be able to see the faces of the accused, and vice versa, when they testify in court, he said, adding that such facilities were crucial to provide psycho-social support for child victims.

The special court was established following a call by Najib at a seminar on child sexual crimes last March for a special court to handle cases involving sexual crimes against children.

It was established in accordance with the Sexual Offences Against Children Act which was passed by Parliament last April. - BERNAMA