Traditional healer sentenced to five years for sexual assault conviction

Afendi Hassan, a traditional healer, will serve a five-year prison sentence after an appellate court upheld his conviction for sexually assaulting a young woman under the guise of providing medical treatment. The court found no merit in Hassan's attempt to set aside the conviction related to the incident involving the 19-year-old victim.

Hassan had claimed that the sexual assault was part of a legitimate healing or treatment procedure, but the court rejected this defence. The conviction stemmed from an investigation into the alleged assault, which the victim reported to authorities.

The case highlights ongoing concerns in Malaysia regarding the practices of traditional healers operating without proper medical credentials or regulatory oversight. While some traditional healing practices have cultural significance, authorities have emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation under the pretext of medical treatment.

Hassan's sentencing follows a series of cases involving unlicensed practitioners accused of misconduct. Legal experts have noted that such cases underscore the need for stricter enforcement of health regulations and greater public awareness about legitimate medical practitioners versus unregistered alternative healers.