Malaysia charges man with links to Islamic firm in alleged child abuse scandal | The Mighty 790 KFGO

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) – A Malaysian man who authorities say is linked to an Islamic conglomerate accused of running charitable homes where children were allegedly abused appeared in court on Wednesday charged with criminal intimidation, according to a court document seen by Reuters.

Mohamad Riza Makar, 39, pleaded not guilty to threatening a woman who previously worked for the company in an attempt to get her to withdraw a police complaint, according to an indictment seen by Reuters and confirmed by a police investigator.

State news agency Bernama reported that Mohamad Riza, a businessman with three wives and 10 children, was released on bail of 10,000 ringgit ($2,360). If convicted of intimidation, he could face up to two years in prison, a fine or both.

Mohamad Riza and his lawyer were not immediately available for comment after the hearing. A representative for Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week, police rescued over 400 children during raids on 20 charitable homes that authorities say belong to the GISB. Many children showed signs of sexual abuse and neglect, police said.

The GISB said it did not run the homes and denied allegations of widespread abuse, but its executive director acknowledged on Saturday that there had been “one or two” cases of sodomy in the homes.

Mohamad Riza is the second person linked to the GISB investigation to face court. A 19-year-old girl was charged with child abuse last week in connection with the case, Bernama reported.

GISB is linked to Al-Arqam, a religious sect banned by the government in 1994. The company has acknowledged this connection but now describes itself as an Islamic conglomerate based on Muslim principles.

(1 US dollar = 4.2340 ringgit)

(Reporting by Mandy Leong and Danial Azhar; Writing by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by John Mair and Miral Fahmy)