Malaysia High Court grants bail to three Myanmar children

The Malaysian High Court has reversed a magistrate court decision, granting bail to three Myanmar children aged between 11 and 12. The children were originally denied bail in the Bukit Mertajam magistrates’ court after being charged with criminal intimidation involving a 71-year-old woman.

Rights groups, including Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) and Tenaganita, raised significant concerns regarding the children's welfare and the legality of their initial detention. LFL adviser Latheefa Koya argued that the denial of bail was disturbing and potentially unlawful, as the offense was bailable. She also noted that the detention could cause lasting psychological harm and questioned Malaysia's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene A Das called for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to intervene to ensure the children receive necessary legal and psychosocial support. Das highlighted concerns regarding the reported use of restraints and potential issues with language interpretation during the proceedings, urging authorities to ensure all actions align with the Child Act 2001.