Kuala lumpur: A special tribunal for compensation claims by families of crime victims may consider community service as an alternative to restitution or payments, helping entitled parties restore losses or remedy injustices. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, emphasized that the assessment of compensation types must be viewed broadly, considering both individuals and the capacity of the responsible parties.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azalina highlighted that the Criminal Law Reform Committee is examining compensation issues from a comprehensive perspective. She cited the example of 'corporate manslaughter' involving a negligent bus driver, emphasizing the need for corporate accountability. "We want the company to be held responsible. But if the company is responsible, we cannot exactly send the company to prison," she remarked during the handover ceremony for the Office of the Public Defender, the launch of Justice on Wheels (JoW), and the commissioning of mediators for the Legal Aid Department.
Azalina's comments follow recent media reports about the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) considering a proposal to establish a special tribunal for compensation claims by families of crime victims. AG Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar confirmed that the proposal requires a detailed study to ensure its effective implementation if realized.
The proposal to establish the tribunal arises from calls by various stakeholders, including politicians and legal experts, advocating for compensation to families of crime victims, including those affected by accidents. Azalina noted that when an organization is held responsible for compensating victims' families, it could form part of the sentencing package imposed.
She suggests that the proposed tribunal needs adjustments, considering that compensation need not always be monetary. Azalina referenced practices in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Germany, where restitution may take the form of community service, as potential models for implementation.
