A rapist is set to become the first in Indonesia to be chemically castrated for his crimes in the country's bid to introduce harsher punishments on sex offenders.

Muh Aris bin Syukur will be castrated after being sentenced for the rape of nine young girls over a three year period.

2 Chemical castration lowers sexual desire but treatment needs to be administered continuously Credit: Getty - Contributor

The court in East Java announced the decision to chemically castrate Syukur following the introduction of the Presidential Regulation In Lieu of Law.

His crimes took place between 2015 and 2018 in Mojokerto, Indonesia.

Following the new law, judges will not be able to enact the death penalty or order the chemical castration of paedophiles.



DELAYS IN PUNISHMENT

The court ruling read: "We hereby give the additional sentence in the form of chemical castration to the convicted."

President Joko Widodo said at the time of ratification: "This regulation is intended to overcome the crisis caused by sexual violence against children.

"Sexual crimes against children are extraordinary crimes, because they threaten the lives of children."

A date is yet to be set for the punishment, as so far, doctors in the country have been refusing to perform the procedure - claiming it goes against their ethics.

Chemical castration reduces the libido and sexual activity of the criminal by injecting aphrodisiac drugs.

What is chemical castration? Chemical castration uses anaphrodisiac drugs to reduce libido or sexual activity.

It involves the administration of antiandrogen drugs such as cyproterone acetate, flutamide, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. This can be done either in pill form or more commonly via injections.

Unlike surgical castration, where the gonads are removed through an incision in the body, chemical castration does not remove organs.

It was first used in 1944, when diethylstilbestrol was used with the purpose of lowering men's testosterone.

Mathematician Alan Turing was chemically castrated, in a 1952 deal with the British Government, after being found guilty of homosexuality. He killed himself two years later.

A number of countries still use chemical castration - including seven US states.

Alabama signed a law in June that requires sex offenders to undergo chemical castration as a condition of parole if the victim is younger than 13.

Poland, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, Moldova and Estonia have all introduced the legislation to castrate paedophiles in the past decade.

Poland was the first country in Europe to make chemical castration compulsery for certain sex offenders in 2010.

In 2011, South Korea enacted a law allowing judges to sentence sex offenders who have attacked children under the age of 16 to chemical castration.

A few months after, in October 2011, Russia followed - but lessened the victims age to 14.

Moldova brought the law into play in 2012, stating that all of those charged with paedophillia will be chemically castrated.

Also in 2012, Estonia introduced a law that allows voluntary chemical castration for less serious sex offenders as an alternative of prison.

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The news follows that of Ukraine last month, who said they are set to introduce forced chemical castration for paedophiles in a bid to curb the rising numbers of child rapes and sex attacks.

The controversial legislation will potentially apply annually to thousands of men aged between 18 and 65 found guilty of raping or sexually abusing minors.

Coercive chemical castration involves the forced injection of anti-androgen drugs consisting of chemicals that aim to reduce libido and sexual activity, reported Ukrinform news agency.

2 Credit: Getty - Contributor

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