Malaysia blocks nearly 100 accounts linked to Islamic group involved in child abuse in nursing homes

Malaysian authorities have frozen nearly 100 bank accounts belonging to a conglomerate accused of running care homes where hundreds of children were abused, police said on Tuesday.

In what is believed to be the worst such incident in Malaysia in decades, police arrested 171 suspects, including religious teachers and caregivers, and evacuated more than 400 children after raiding 20 charity shelters.

The investigation focuses on the Global Ikhwan Service and Business (GISB) group, which has long been controversial because of its links to the now-defunct Al-Arqam sect.

On Tuesday, Malaysian police chief Razarudin Husain said authorities had frozen 96 accounts linked to the group containing about $124,000.

“We have also seized eight vehicles associated with the company,” he said.