KUALA LUMPUR – Police have frozen about RM2.75 million worth of assets linked with Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH), comprising financial funds and vehicles, as part of its ongoing crackdown against suspected human trafficking and child abuse.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said RM882,795.95 in funds from 138 frozen bank accounts while another RM1.87 million is the estimated value of 22 automobiles of various types.
A total of 15 accounts were closed by police, Razarudin told a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here, today.
“The freezing orders were conducted under Section 44(1) and Section 45(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA),” he said.
Besides placing a freeze on 14 property lots of an undisclosed value, Razarudin said police have also seized an additional 16 vehicles valued at RM2.07 million, RM18,650 in cash and two Amazfit watches said to be worth RM600.
The nation’s top cop added that 26 animals, consisting of nine horses, 14 rabbits and three peacocks were also seized under Section 45(2) of the AMLATFPUAA Act.
“We believe that more seizures will take place following police’s anti-money laundering force’s investigations into (GISBH’s) money trail,” Razarudin said.
When asked whether police would utilise the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) for its investigations into GISBH, Razarudin affirmed that police probes are heading in that direction.
“If you ask me whether police are being ‘overzealous’ (by using the AMLATFPUAA Act) – if we think back to when (deviant sect) Al-Arqam was banned, they still managed to set up GISBH because there was no AMLATFPUAA Act then.
“Now, we don’t have the Internal Security Act 1960, but we have plenty of other laws. We can use the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2022 and Sosma if the offences fall under the laws,” he added.
He stressed that police do not want to be perceived as doing things “halfway”, saying: “We do not want teachings which have been deemed as deviant to crop up again. If that happens, the police will be blamed.
“We are carefully carrying out our operation in phases and based on legal provisions which are still enforced in Malaysia.”
Some GISBH members might not know own children’s names
Meanwhile, when asked whether parents of children rescued by authorities during recent raids on GISBH-linked premises have been made aware that their children are now under the government’s care, Razarudin implied it would be unlikely for the parents to not know their children’s fate.
“A majority of the children (rescued by authorities) have GISBH members as their parents. So, how can the parents not be aware (of their children’s conditions)?” he questioned.
He also revealed that while some male GISBH members have up to 34 children from multiple wives, the men might not keep track of all his children, saying: “They might take care of two (children) and don’t even know the names of the remaining 32.”
On September 11, police rescued 402 children during raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan, which the authorities had linked to GISBH.
The Health Ministry’s screening process on 392 of the victims found that they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse as well as child labour and malnourishment.
Separate raids carried out under Phase 4 of Op Global commencing September 21, led to authorities rescuing another 187 victims, 59 of whom are aged below five.
The organisation previously denied operating the care centres raided by authorities while distancing itself from child exploitation allegations. – September 23, 2024