Malaysia widens probe into ‘horror’ care home child abuse
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Malaysian police expanded their probe Friday into a major Muslim company with links to a banned sect, after hundreds of children were rescued from alleged abuse at care homes believed to be run by the group.
Investigators stormed 20 charity shelters across two Malaysian states on Wednesday, arresting 171 suspects including religious studies teachers and caregivers, and bringing to safety 400 children.
In what is believed to be the worst such case to hit Malaysia in decades, police suspect the victims — aged from one to 17 — had been subjected to sexual and physical attacks.
They were also allegedly forced by the care home staff to abuse each other.
Investigators were “working towards” further raids and arrests as the probe on the organisation called Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) continues, said police inspector-general Razarudin Husain.
Investigations and health checks so far show that at least 13 minors had been sexually abused, Razarudin said at a press conference.
The children, who are temporarily being housed in a police training centre in Kuala Lumpur among other locations, are still undergoing medical examinations, added the police chief.
Razarudin had said on Wednesday that children as young as five were burnt with hot spoons, while others who were ill were not allowed to seek treatment until their condition became critical.
“The caretakers also touched the children’s bodies as if to carry out medical checks,” he said.
GISB has denied the allegations and said they do not run the care homes raided in the states of Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
“It is not our policy to do things that go against Islam, and the laws,” the group said in a statement this week.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he has urged relevant authorities to “investigate thoroughly” without delay.
“This concerns the faith of the community. It is important and a serious matter, involving abuse of power, misuse of religion,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers.
Multi-ethnic Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with Muslims subject to sharia (Islamic law) in certain areas.
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