ANOTHER 31 GISB Holdings (GISBH) members, including 17 with key positions in the organisation, were nabbed in an operation which began on Sept 18 in Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, and Kedah, near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
Overall, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain in a statement today said a total of 200 people have been detained in the ongoing investigation involving GISBH.
Of the arrests made under “Op Global” he said 139 suspects have had their remand extended, while 23 others were released on police bail.
"Police had opened 37 investigation papers, including three additional cases on Sept 17, in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and one in Sungai Kapar, Selangor, under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007," he said.
A total of eight IPs involving seven suspects have been prosecuted with 29 charges, he added.
He said all victims aged 18 and above have been handed over to their next of kin while those below 18 have been handed over to the Welfare Department under Section 25(2) of the Child Act 2001.
On September 11, 402 children aged between one and 17 were rescued from 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan in an operation codenamed Ops Global.
The homes are believed to be linked to GISBH, which is allegedly linked to the teachings and beliefs of the banned Al-Arqam group.
Meanwhile, according to reports in Berita Harian, dozens of books related to teachings and doctrines suspected to be championed by GISBH were found buried by a river near the homes of the group’s followers at Kampung Panji in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, this morning.
The books involved are believed to have been buried after the police arrested the Chief Executive Officer of GISBH, yesterday.
Many of the books were burned with the area still smelling of smoke this morning, while thicker and larger copies were buried, possibly to avoid detection by the authorities.
Razarudin said police were committed to conducting a thorough investigation into this operation, and also advised the public not to make any speculation while the investigation was still ongoing.
He urged any individual who had been victims or possessed information related to this case to come forward and report to the nearest police station. - September 21, 2024
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