KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 28 -- Malaysia's Children's Commissioner has condemned the recent detention of a 16-year-old girl under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), saying this "should never have occurred" and was a clear violation of the Child Act 2001.

The Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) welcomed the girl's release on January 23 after nearly ten days in custody but stressed that her initial arrest and detention were not in compliance with Malaysian law.

The girl was detained on January 14 in connection with an anti-trafficking investigation.

The OCC pointed out that under Section 84 of the Child Act, a child must be brought before a Court for Children within 24 hours of arrest, a requirement that was not ...