KUALA LUMPUR – Police have frozen over RM580,000 in funds originating from nearly 100 accounts linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB Holdings), the company linked to care homes suspected of child abuse and exploitation.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said a seize order for eight vehicles from the multinational conglomerate has also been issued.
“To date, police have identified and traced 96 accounts linked to GISB Holdings, with RM581,552.31 worth of assets frozen under Section 44(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLAATFPUAA) 2001.
“Four accounts have also been closed,” Razarudin told a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here, today.
Police are taking these actions as part of current investigations into alleged criminal misdeeds at the charity homes believed to be owned by GISB Holdings.
Travel bans have also been imposed on suspects involved in the ongoing investigations, Razarudin confirmed.
Police are also monitoring other charity homes as GISB Holdings is linked to “more than 30” of such care centres, he added, noting that police are approaching investigations into the company as it would “an organised crime syndicate”.
GISB Holdings executive chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali will be summoned for questioning, Razadurin added, but did not disclose when.
The top cop also commented on Nasiruddin’s complaint in a social media video that police should have discussed or offered advise to GISB Holdings instead of conducting a raid and taking the children away.
Razarudin said it is not normal police procedure to do so, especially when the case in question involves major criminal acts.
“For instance, if your house has been broken into, should I have a discussion with the robber before I investigate the crime? Is that how it should be?
“To discuss a case (being investigated) under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Child Act 2001…is there a need for police to hold discussions?” he told the media today.
In a recent video clip posted on social media, Nasarudin admitted that there have been “one or two: cases of sodomy involving children at GISB Holdings’ welfare homes.
On September 11, police raided 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan and rescued 402 minors comprising 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17.
Based on health screenings and interviews with the children, 13 of the child victims are suspected to have been sodomised while under the homes’ care.
Razarudin added that the children’s bodies were touched inappropriately with the excuse that they were being given “Islamic treatments” while religious sentiments were used to garner sympathy in order for the homes to secure donations.
While authorities had linked the major operation dubbed Ops Global to GISB Holdings, the company had since denied operating the raided welfare homes, after also denying any involvement in exploitative child labour. – September 17, 2024
