Rights group Tenaganita has questioned whether child protection safeguards were observed in the handling of three Myanmar boys charged with criminal intimidation, including the reported use of handcuffs during their court appearance.

Its executive director, Glorene Das, said the children’s initial detention, reported use of restraints, and concerns over language interpretation raised serious questions about whether child-sensitive procedures had been followed.

The criticism comes after the Butterworth High Court yesterday overturned a magistrate’s decision to deny bail to the three boys, aged between 11 and 12, despite prosecutors proposing bail of RM4,000 each.

Welcoming the High Court’s intervention, Glorene stressed that the decision did not erase the fear, humiliation, and possible trauma experienced by the children.