Community Sentencing Law Won T Apply To Current Inmates Says Deputy Minister

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 The government is amending the Offenders Compulsory Attendance Act 1954 to allow judges to sentence certain offenders to community work instead of prison.
Deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said allowing certain categories of offenders to do community service can help solve the problem of overcrowding in prisons.KUALA LUMPUR: A law to be amended that allows certain offenders to undergo community service instead of jail time will not apply to those who have already been sentenced and are serving time
Deputy home minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the Compulsory Attendance Orders (CAO) are only for those who have not been sentenced and whose offences can be punished with up to 10 years in jail.
The government is amending the Offenders Compulsory Attendance Act 1954 to allow judges to sentence certain offenders to community work instead of prison.
Previously, the law only covered people facing fewer than three years in jail. Once amended, it will also apply to offences that carry a jail term of up to 10 years if the judge feels a lighter sentence and community work are appropriate.
Shamsul said the CAO will only be given to those who are likely to receive a sentence of three years or less.
The programme allows courts to impose community-based compulsory work of up to four hours daily for a maximum of 12 months as an alternative to short-term imprisonment.
He said eligible work under the programme includes community service (cleaning houses of worship, old folks’ homes, and public spaces), short-term skills training, counselling and intervention modules, and voluntary service based on the offender’s professional skills.
He also denied claims that this was a form of house arrest, stating that the government wants to ease overcrowding in prisons and give these offenders a chance to reform without being locked up.
He said overcrowding in prisons could lead to an outbreak of diseases, the reduced effect of rehabilitation, and increased costs for the government.
Shamsul was responding to a backbencher and opposition members in the Dewan Rakyat who asked if the CAO would benefit a certain prominent prisoner and was also a pathway for house arrest.
He said existing inmates fall under other rehabilitation systems such as parole and community release programmes.
He also said that since its introduction in 2010, 8,227 offenders have completed the CAO programme with a success rate of 94.75%.
The amendment was passed and will now go to the Dewan Negara. - FMT

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