Men who threaten their wives with death or violence for refusing to have sex may face five years in jail in Malaysia as part of a government plan to toughen criminal penalties, a news report said on Friday.
The penal code in this mostly Muslim nation currently has no specific criminal penalty for husbands who coerce their wives to have sex, but Women's rights activists have said such offenses comprise a significant portion of Malaysia's domestic violence cases.
Forced sex was recently examined by a committee of lawmakers headed by Home Affairs Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, the New Straits Times newspaper reported.
The committee proposed that any husband who threatens his wife with injury or death in order to have sex with her should be jailed up to five years, the report said.
The committee also proposed doubling sentences for thieves who snatch valuables from victims from seven years to 14 years, the Times said, citing the committee's report.
According to police statistics, more than 8,000 "snatch thefts" occurred nationwide in the first eight months of 2005. Parliament is scheduled to debate the proposals next month, the report said.
{{/usCountry}}According to police statistics, more than 8,000 "snatch thefts" occurred nationwide in the first eight months of 2005. Parliament is scheduled to debate the proposals next month, the report said.
{{/usCountry}}Radzi and his aides couldn't immediately be contacted for comment on Friday.