KUALA LUMPUR: With glaring indications of wrongdoings at the care centres raided during Ops Global last week, there was no need for the police to consult any parties before proceeding, says Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
Taking a firm stance on serious crimes, the Inspector-General of Police said there would be no compromise in ensuring that lawbreakers face stern action.
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He was responding to a statement by Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings executive chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali who described police action against the 20 welfare homes run by the company as excessive and overzealous
"(Did we have to) discuss and advise (before conducting the raids) with all the evidence we had?" Razarudin said at a press conference here on Tuesday (Sept 17).
"If this is the case, then if a house is robbed and we identify the perpetrator, should we discuss it with the culprit and settle the matter with him?
"When there are crimes involving sexual assault of children and human trafficking, is it necessary for us to have discussions first?
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"He (Nasiruddin) claimed that he had held talks with police but I am unaware of these as they were not with me or the CID director (Comm Datuk Seri Shuhaily Mohd Zain) " he said.
Nasiruddin had asked why the police had chosen not to "hold discussions and give advice first" instead of "hauling up" all the children.
Razarudin said Nasiruddin is among those who will be called up for questioning over the case.
He added that the investigation would be conducted transparently and fairly to ensure that justice is done.
From preliminary investigations, police found that 18 of the 20 homes in Negri Sembilan and Selangor were not registered with the Social Welfare Department.
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As such, he said the premises operated without monitoring or regulation.
Razarudin also said the majority of those arrested were teenagers and young adults employed as caretakers of the homes.
The Star has also learnt that the young children who were rescued were found to have suffered serious emotional and psychological trauma from the alleged berating, beatings and other harsh treatment.
It was also learnt that as a result of facing such mistreatment routinely from the time they were toddlers, and being isolated from society for most of their young lives, the children had come to accept their fate as normal.
On Wednesday (Sept 11), 402 children comprising 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17 were rescued from 20 homes raided in an operation codenamed Ops Global.
The homes were reportedly linked to GISB Holdings.
There were allegations that the children had been abused, exploited and sexually assaulted.
A total of 171 suspects, aged between 17 and 64, were arrested, including a teacher and dormitory caretakers.
