Malaysia arrests hundreds in child abuse investigation

It is believed to be the worst case of its kind in the country in decades. Police said on Saturday that they had arrested 355 people, including religious teachers and counselors, and rescued more than 400 children.

At the centre of the investigation is the group Global Ikhwan Service and Business (GISB), which has long been controversial because of its links to the banned Al-Arqam sect.

Police said they arrested GISB leader Nasiruddin Ali and 30 other members of the group after raids on numerous premises, including charitable homes, businesses and religious schools.

On Tuesday, Malaysian police chief Razarudin Husain said authorities had frozen 96 accounts linked to the group with a total value of about $124,000 and seized eight vehicles.

The GISB initially denied the allegations and stressed that it was not the operator of the searched nursing homes in the states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

But in a video posted on the company's Facebook page last week, CEO Nasiruddin acknowledged that there had been “one or two cases of sodomy” in the women's shelters, but denied allegations of widespread abuse.

Medical examinations have shown that at least 13 children have been sexually abused, Razarudin said.

The case has raised doubts about the health of children in care facilities and the regulation of non-profit organisations in Malaysia.

The Al-Arqam sect was banned by the authorities in 1994 for deviant teachings, and GISB members founded a “Club of Obedient Wives” in 2011, which called on women to be “whores in bed” to prevent their husbands from being unfaithful.

The company's website states that GISB is an Islamic company that operates businesses ranging from supermarkets to restaurants and operates in several countries, including Indonesia, France and the UK.

Religious authorities in the state of Selangor said they were closely monitoring the activities of the GISB.

According to Razarudin, police believe that the 402 minors in the care homes were all children of GISB members.