BACHOK (Bernama): Kelantan recorded a worrying trend of rape cases this year involving minors and schoolgoing students as young as 13 years old, says its police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat.

       He said 51 rape cases were reported from January to July compared to 39 cases in the same period last year.

       Investigations revealed that the victims met the perpetrators via social networking platforms such as Facebook or WhatsApp, he told reporters after a working visit to the newly-upgraded Jelawat police station here on Sunday (Sept 5).

       Shafien said between January and July this year, 16 rape cases were reported in Kota Baru alone compared to only five in the same period last year.

       In addition, a total of 14 incest cases were recorded during the same period this year compared to 15 cases last year.

       "Regarding cases involving minors between the ages of 13 and 16, we hope parents will always monitor their children's movements wherever they are, even when they are at home,” he added.

       He said in some cases victims were raped in their own homes or when they were at the suspects’ homes when there were no parents around, adding that in most cases, police managed to detain the suspects as they were known to the victims.

       Meanwhile, he said the Jelawat police station started operations on Sunday, led by a sarjan mejar and 15 personnel of various ranks. – Bernama