POLICE rescued 402 minors, some of whom were allegedly exploited and abused, including sexually, in a major operation across two states today codenamed Op Global, reported the New Straits Times.
A total 201 boys and 201 girls were from 18 charity homes in Selangor and two in Negri Sembilan.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the victims were all locals and were rescued between 6am and 11am.
“They are aged between one and 17 years old and had endured various forms of abuse including being sodomised.”
He said a total 171 individuals aged between 17 and 64 years old, including caretakers, ustaz (religious teachers) and the chairmen of the premises were arrested during the simultaneous raids at the charity homes in both states.
“All the rescued victims will undergo health screening before being taken to the Kuala Lumpur police training centre for the documentation process,” he told a press conference at the Pahang police contingent headquarters today.
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, said Razarudin.
He said the victims also suffered punishment with heated metal objects and inappropriate touching under the guise of religious medical treatment.
“They were punished using heated metal objects when the victims committed mistakes and the suspects touched the victim’s body parts by claiming it was part of the religious medical treatment.”
Razarudin said the suspects are being investigated under the Child Act 2001, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. – September 11, 2024
