KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police detained another 155 suspects in the investigation into alleged child abuse at care homes linked to a Muslim conglomerate.
A total of 77 women were among those arrested on Saturday (Sep 21) during raids on 82 welfare homes, clinics and businesses, reported local media.
This brings the total number of arrests to 355, after the Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain announced earlier on Saturday that 200 had been detained so far in the ongoing probe known as Ops Global.
The 200 included 31 members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB). Seventeen of them are key figures of the organisation.
Police have said GISB is linked to a banned religious sect. Established in 2010, the conglomerate owns bakeries, minimarts and other businesses in Malaysia and elsewhere, with assets totalling around RM325 million (US$75.6 million) globally.
LATEST ARRESTS
Saturday’s arrests took place across 82 locations in Peninsula Malaysia.
“We also rescued 186 victims, comprising 102 males and 84 females. They include several children who were captured on video allegedly being caned by members of the company,” said Razarudin, according to the New Straits Times.
In Melaka, 24 people were rescued, including 19 minors, from a house, reported the Malay Mail.
Police raided 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan earlier this month, rescuing about 400 children who had allegedly been abused, some sexually.
The children rescued were aged between one and 17.
“Initial investigations revealed the victims were not only sodomised by the caretakers, but also taught to perform a similar act on the other children at the home,” Razarudin said, as reported by the New Straits Times on Sep 11.
“They were punished using heated metal objects when the victims commit mistakes and the suspects touched the victim’s body parts by claiming it was part of the religious medical treatment.”
Nasiruddin denied allegations of widespread abuse at the care homes and other misconduct, though he acknowledged that “one or two” cases of sodomy occurred.
SELANGOR SULTAN URGES ACTION
The Sultan of Selangor on Saturday expressed disappointment over the lack of effective action taken against GISB.
“We must accept the fact that the delay in handling this issue highlighted the weaknesses in monitoring and enforcing laws by religious organisations against charity homes and religious schools linked to GISB,” said a statement from the Selangor Royal Office, as reported by The Star.
“The organisation’s network is so vast that this issue has become serious and out of control.”
The police reiterated on Saturday that they would conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of child abuse.
“We are still committed to conducting a thorough investigation in this operation. We urge the public not to speculate on the case while the investigation is ongoing,” Razarudin said, as quoted by The Star.
He urged victims or people with information related to the case to come forward.
“This will help to ensure a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the matter,” said Razarudin.