A 13-year-old rape victim was presented with a medical bill from government hospital officials after her treatment. She was taken for three-day treatment in January after going to her local police station to file a report against her abusers, reportedly the young girl’s cousins.
Upon initial examination, doctors admitted the girl for further treatment, including psychological testing of the victim.
Following the completion of her medical report, hospital management informed her that after submitting a copy of her police report, she would be exempt from paying the RM430 (US$110) bill.
However, having submitted her report twice now, she is still being asked by the hospital to pay a balance.
Speaking to Berita Harian, the victim told reporters that the bill was specifically addressed personally to her, a teenage rape victim, and not to her legal guardian.
The girl is currently stateless, despite the fact that she was born in Sabah, East Malaysia. Her father is a citizen, as are her two younger siblings. She says that an error in registering her birth by her father has resulted in her long wait for citizenship status to be granted.
As a non-Malaysian, she is technically not eligible for free health care.
Her story is a tragic tale of sexual abuse since the age of five by her cousin. The incidents were witnessed by her seven-year-old brother on several occasions back in Sabah, when the girl’s parents were not at home. The girl also claims she was abused by her father.
Alleging local authority inaction regarding the claims by the girl against her family, the girl’s mother moved the victim and her younger siblings to peninsular Malaysia in October of last year, hoping that police here would take action.
After filing a police report, medical officials confirmed that the victim’s genital area showed signs of abuse.
There has been no comment as of yet from hospital management, nor from Health authorities.
