GISBH-linked premises in Sabah, Sarawak closed, says IGP

 

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the police will continue to monitor these premises to ensure that the individuals involved are identified and brought to justice.

PETALING JAYA: 

Premises related to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) in Sabah and Sarawak are no longer operational, says Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.

He said police held a meeting with the government agencies involved in investigating GISBH to assess their current operations in Sabah and Sarawak, Bernama reported.

GISBH is being investigated for child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking and deviant Islamic teachings, among other things.

The outcome of the meeting revealed that premises related to GISBH in Sabah and Sarawak have been closed and are no longer operational,

 he was quoted as saying.

He said police would continue to monitor these premises to ensure those involved are identified and brought to justice, if necessary.

The meeting involved the health ministry, the Islamic development department, the social welfare department and the national registration department.

Hundreds of items related to the teachings of Al-Arqam, a cult movement declared deviant by the National Fatwa Council in 1994, were discovered during raids on premises linked to GISBH in Melaka and Kelantan last week.

GISBH previously said it had discarded its former image as Al-Arqam’s business wing and is currently positioned as a multinational company.

Meanwhile, in Kelantan, the Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB) has confirmed that 19 businesses operated by GISBH in the state capital are no longer in operation.

According to Bernama, MPKB president Anis Hussein said the premises included hotels, convenience stores and bakeries. He added that they were believed to have closed following the arrest of GISBH’s top leadership.

So far, more than 300 people, including GISBH’s senior management, have been detained following raids carried out by police on the group’s premises across the country.

On Tuesday, Razarudin said 572 children and teenagers had been rescued from GISBH-linked welfare homes after they were suspected of being exploited by the group. They were suspected of being victims of abuse and sexual exploitation.

Razarudin was also reported to have said that at least 13 children were sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.

In a statement, Razarudin proposed that the relevant authorities take action by raiding and seizing the premises under the respective states’ shariah criminal laws and Section 16A of the Care Centres Act 1993. - FMT