A large-scale police investigation has resulted in 187 children being rescued from locations linked to an Islamic business group accused ofsexual abuse.
Maylisan police chief Razarudin Husain said those children were rescued from welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business, or GISB Holdings.
Fifty-nine of those children were under the age of 5 years old.
This brought the e number of children under the age of 18 who have been rescued to 572 since the case against GISB erupted earlier this month, ABC News reported.
Husain said that police also arrested one hundred fifty-six more suspects.
Some of the e children are believed to have been sodomized and taught to sexually abuse each other and suffered torture with hot metal spoons.
At least t 13 teens were sodomized, and 172 children suffered long-term physical and emotional injuries, according to medical screenings.
The majority of the victims are children of GISB employees, police said.
The investigation came after the country’s king called for a swift police action.
GISB, which has its roots in the Al Arqam Islamic sect – which was deemed heretical and banned by the government in 1994, owns mini-markets, bakeries, restaurants, pharmacies, and other businesses in Malaysia and abroad
Last week, police detained members of GISB’s top management, including CEO Nasiruddin Mohamad Ali, two of his wives and two of his children.
Nasiruddin admitted there may have been some sodomy cases in the homes but denied widespread abuse.
Razarudin revealed that an estimated 10,000 GISB employees and followers are believed to be practicing the Al Arqam teachings.
Police have 280 locations nationwide linked to GISB.
In those locations, police seized Islamic books and materials with deviant teachings, he said.
Meanwhile, 138 bank accounts linked to GISB have been frozen, totaling a value of about 1.9 million ringgit ($452,000).
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