Facing the law: Nasiruddin (foreground) and several GISB members arriving at the court complex in Shah Alam. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The probe on controversial Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) has widened further, with Bukit Aman zooming in on the company’s top guns.
Nineteen of its leaders, including the chief executive officer (CEO), have been arrested and remanded to help in investigations.Since the raids on 20 care homes – 18 in Selangor and two in Negri Sembilan – believed to be linked to the company, police have stepped up their investigations, codenamed Op Global, into the group’s dealings and facilities.
Yesterday, the 19, including senior management members such as CEO Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, his wife and his two sons, were remanded for seven days after they were brought to the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court.
Police said the 12 men and seven women, aged between 25 and 65, were picked up in early morning raids.
It is believed that among the 19 detained were four daughters of the late Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Muhammad, who are aged between 29 and 38.
Acting on intelligence, a team from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided four residential units simultaneously in Jalan Imbi here at about 5.40am yesterday as part of Op Global.
When contacted, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the group was detained to assist in the ongoing investigations.
“Police are in the midst of interviewing the suspects and conducting the documentation. We are definitely moving into the next stage of Op Global,” he said.
He added that the probe is being conducted under several laws, including Section 32(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.
At the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Court Complex in Shah Alam, the remand application for the individuals was submitted before magistrate Wan Noora Nisa Ngadirin yesterday afternoon.
The suspects are currently being held at the central lockup of the Shah Alam district police headquarters.
On Wednesday, five men believed to be linked to the company were detained near the Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoint up north.
Among the five detained was a son of a GISB leader.
Razarudin said the suspects, aged between 30 and 41, were travelling in two motorhomes bearing the GISB logo.
“They were heading to the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex towards Thailand.
“The suspects were initially brought to the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters for documentation purposes before being transported to the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court for the remand application,” he said.
Razarudin added that police had impounded the two motorhomes and another vehicle.
“The suspects’ last known addresses were in Selangor, Johor, Perak and Kelantan,” he said.
So far, 33 investigation papers have been opened and three of them have been referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers, said Razarudin.
“We have also recorded the statements of 746 individuals. They comprise complainants, witnesses, victims and suspects,” the country’s top cop said.On Sept 11, police rescued 402 children – 201 boys and 201 girls aged between one and 17 years – from the 20 care homes in the two states under Ops Global.
There were allegations that the children were abused, exploited and sexually assaulted.
A total of 171 suspects, aged between 17 and 64, were also arrested. Among them were a teacher and a dormitory caretakers.
In a 20-minute video released by GISB last Saturday, Nasiruddin admitted that there were “one or two isolated cases of sodomy” in their midst but denied accusations of human trafficking and slavery within the group.
As the company hit the headlines in the past few days, the CEO said he was disgusted by claims of children within its community having been groomed to sodomise others.
GISB, he added, is mulling legal action over the matter.
In the recording, Nasiruddin also said GISB bank accounts have been frozen by the authorities.
Following the video’s release, Razarudin said the CEO is free to make any statements but police will still conduct their investigations into the alleged sodomy involving 13 children.
On Tuesday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, decreed that the Royal Malaysia Police conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged criminal misconduct and child abuse issues linked to GISB.
