Malaysian police rescue 187 more children as investigation into sexual abuse by Islamic group intensifies

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian police said on Monday they had rescued 187 more children and carried out raids across the country at locations linked to an Islamic business group under investigation for alleged child sexual abuse.

National police chief Razarudin Husain said the children and youth, including 59 under the age of 5, were rescued from welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB Holdings). Among them was a boy who was caned and another child who was kicked in online videos, he said.

This brings the number of children under 18 rescued since the start of proceedings against GISB earlier this month to 572, he said.

Police also arrested 156 other suspects, he said.

According to police, some children were probably anally abused and raised to sexually abuse each other. They were denied medical treatment and burned with hot metal spoons as punishment. Medical examinations have so far shown that at least 13 young people were anally abused and 172 children suffered long-term physical and psychological injuries.

According to police, the victims are mostly children of GISB employees who have been housed in the homes since childhood and who were probably instilled with loyalty to the group at a young age.

The intensified police action against GISB came after the country’s king called for swift police investigation and action in a case that had shocked and angered the nation.

GISB, which aims to promote an Islamic lifestyle, owns mini-markets, bakeries, restaurants, pharmacies and other shops in Malaysia and abroad. Its roots lie in the Islamic sect Al Arqam, which was considered heretical and banned by the government in 1994.

Last week, police arrested members of GISB’s top leadership, including CEO Nasiruddin Mohamad Ali, two of his wives and two of his children. Some family members of the late Ashaari Mohamad, who headed Al Arqam before his death in 2010, were also arrested.

Nasiruddin had previously admitted that there may have been some cases of sodomy in the homes, but denied that there was widespread abuse.

Razarudin said there were an estimated 10,000 GISB employees and followers believed to be practicing Al Arqam’s teachings. Islamic authorities were investigating, he said.

He said police had searched 280 sites nationwide linked to the GISB, but most had been cleared. At 59 of these sites, police had seized Islamic books and materials containing deviant teachings, he said.

Authorities have frozen 138 bank accounts linked to GISB with a total value of about 1.9 million ringgit ($452,000) and 14 properties as part of a money laundering investigation, he said. Several people have been charged with sexual abuse of children.