Cops deny claim probe against GISBH excessive

 

Bukit Aman CID director Shuhaily Zain defended the actions by the police in its investigations into GISBH, following criticism by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

PETALING JAYA: 

The police have denied that their investigations into Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH), a company which has been linked to child abuse among other alleged crimes, have been excessive, as claimed by a former prime minister.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department (CID) director Shuhaily Zain said the authorities acted within the confines of existing laws, Sinar Harian reported.

Shuhaily said that action taken against GISBH was not similar to that taken against Al-Arqam, an Islamic movement which was declared deviant in 1994.

GISBH previously said it had discarded its former image as the business wing of the banned Al-Arqam sect and is currently positioned as a multinational company.

According to Shuhaily, the laws used by authorities when taking action against Al-Arqam were different from the ones used following the raids on establishments linked to GISBH.

“In 1994, certain laws did not require a judicial review.

These days it’s different. We need to gather evidence and the procedure is more transparent,

 he was quoted as saying.

Shuhaily was asked to respond to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s view that the police’s action against GISBH was 

heavy-handed

 and gave the impression that the government was out to 

wipe-out

 the organisation.

Earlier today, Shuhaily said 16 GISBH officials, including its CEO, were rearrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). He added that it was to facilitate ongoing investigations.

Last month, former MP Maria Chin Abdullah urged the police against using the controversial law, saying that the authorities should bring the suspects to court and charge them, if they were found to have committed any offence.

GISBH and its activities have come under scrutiny after police rescued 402 children from 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan which the authorities had linked to the firm.

Investigations showed that at least 13 of the children were sodomised or taught to sexually assault others. Four people linked to the company have since been charged with numerous offences, including sexual assault. - FMT