Members of World Ikhwan Companies and Enterprise Holdings (GISBH), (at centre in plain garments), being escorted by Royal Malaysian Law enforcement officials depart after a courtroom look in Seremban, Malaysia, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Malaysian authorities on Thursday (September 19, 2024) arrested the chief government and different senior managers of an Islamic conglomerate accused of operating charity houses the place children were allegedly sexually abused, amid a widening police dragnet within the case.

Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, the pinnacle of World Ikhwan Companies and Enterprise (GISB) Holdings which police say is linked to a banned non secular sect, was detained together with 18 folks in an early morning raid on 4 residential premises in Kuala Lumpur, the Inspector-Basic of Police Razarudin Husain informed Reuters.

5 different folks linked to the corporate have been additionally detained on the border with Thailand, Razarudin stated.

In an announcement posted on Fb late on Thursday, GISB stated its CEO and different high leaders have been being detained by authorities and referred to as for endurance for the outcomes of the investigation to be launched. Nasiruddin and his lawyer weren’t instantly accessible.

Native media had earlier reported the arrests.

GISB’s Nasiruddin on Saturday had denied allegations of widespread abuse on the youth care houses and different misconduct, although he acknowledged that “one or two” instances of sodomy occurred.

Police final week rescued greater than 400 kids and youths from the houses they stated have been run by GISB, although the agency has denied managing the shelters. A lot of these rescued confirmed indicators of neglect, in addition to bodily and sexual abuse, officers say.

Razarudin stated the folks detained on Thursday included Nasiruddin’s two wives, his kids, in addition to a number of kids of late Malaysian preacher Ashaari Mohamed, the founding father of the Al-Arqam non secular sect which was outlawed by the federal government in 1994 for allegedly spreading deviant Islamic teachings within the Muslim-majority nation.

Three males detained as a part of the police investigation into GISB have been additionally individually charged in courtroom on Thursday, Razarudin stated.

The boys, who pleaded not responsible, face a number of prices of allegedly sexual assaulting boys at a non secular faculty in Negeri Sembilan state, courtroom cost sheets seen by Reuters confirmed.

Every cost carries a most penalty of 20 years in jail, caning, or each.

Police beforehand charged two different folks as a part of its probe into GISB, which has companies in over 20 international locations starting from mini-marts to eating places and journey providers. The agency can be beneath investigation for cash laundering, non secular offences and different crimes.