KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Sixteen suspects, including senior managers of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), were rearrested today under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 over allegations of child exploitation and indoctrination of religious fanaticism.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said since the launch of Op Global in September, 58 people have been detained under the same act.
He said during the month-long operation, authorities arrested 415 suspects and rescued 625 victims aged between two months and 28 years.
“From these, 553 victims have been placed in 13 shelters managed by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), while 72 have been handed over to family members,” he told a press conference on Op Global at the Police Training Centre here today.
Shuhaily said the rehabilitation of all affected children is being carried out meticulously and rigorously by JKM.
He said out of the 415 suspects detained, 273 have been granted bail, 37 released without condition, 35 are in custody, two have been handed over to the Kedah Islamic Religious Department, and one has been transferred to the Immigration Department for deportation.
He said 97 investigation papers have been opened for various offences, including one each under Section 130v of the Penal Code and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
Twelve investigation papers involving nine suspects have led to 34 charges, including 20 counts under Section 14(a) and Section 14(b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, and Sections 354 and 506 of the Penal Code.
He said four investigation papers, involving two cases under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom), and one each under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and Section 5(1) of the Child Care Centres Act 1993, have been directed for prosecution by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and will be charged shortly.
“Police investigations are ongoing, and these arrests were made following interrogations. As long as investigations continue to uncover remnants of GISBH followers posing a threat to national security, we will persist,” he said.
Regarding the raids on indoctrination centres operated by GISBH, he said multiple centres were raided during the fourth phase of Op Global, but they were shut.
“We will provide details on the number of centres involved. So far, no victims have come forward to report indoctrination at these locations,” he added.
Shuhaily urged former GISBH members or followers to come forward with information to assist the investigation.
He said there was a positive response to the call from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain for former GISBH members and followers to provide information about the organisation, with some cooperating in the probe.
He confirmed that during Op Global, authorities employed 12 different acts for their investigations, including the Child Act 2001, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, Atipsom, the Child Care Centres Act 1984, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, the Income Tax Act 1967, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
— Bernama
