At least 572 children under the age of 18 have been rescued since the case began earlier this month.
The children were rescued from welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB Holdings). At least 572 children under the age of 18 have been rescued since the case began earlier this month, National police chief Razarudin Husain said, as per AP News.
Of the 187 children who were recently rescued, 59 of them were under the age of 5, police said. Online videos obtained by authorities showed physical assaults on the children, including a young boy being caned and another child getting stepped on. Police arrested 156 additional suspects during the most recent operation, Husain said.
While living at these GISB properties, according to police, children were reportedly sodomized, instructed to sexually assault one another, denied medical care, and burned with hot metal spoons as a form of punishment. Medical screenings revealed that at least 13 children were sodomized, and 172 children sustained long-term emotional and physical injuries.
According to the police, the victims are primarily children of GISB employees who have been confined to their homes since they were infants. They are believed to have been indoctrinated from a young age to be loyal to the Islamic group.
The GISB is dedicated to promoting an Islamic lifestyle in Malaysia and abroad. The group owns mini-markets, pharmacies, restaurants, bakeries, and other enterprises. Its origins can be traced back to the Al Arqam Islamic sect, which was declared heretical and prohibited by the government in 1994.
Police detained members of GISB's senior management, including CEO Narsirudding Mohamad Ali, two of his wives, and two of his children, last week. Additionally, certain relatives of Ashaari Mohamad, who served as the executive director of Al Arqam prior to his passing in 2010, were apprehended, as per the network.
The police chief stated that an estimated 10,000 employees and officials of GISB were believed to be practicing the Al Arqam teachings, and indicated that Islamic authorities have launched an investigation.
Police have conducted raids at 280 locations across the country associated with GISB; however, the majority of these locations were vacated. In 59 of the locations, police confiscated Islamic literature and materials that contained deviant teachings. Husain stated that authorities have suspended 138 bank accounts associated with GISB, which have a total value of approximately $452,000, as well as 14 properties, as part of an investigation into money laundering. Numerous individuals have been charged with sexually assaulting minors, police said.
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