KUALA LUMPUR – Authorities have obtained information regarding 23 properties worth RM52.4 million belonging to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) in 10 countries.
Additionally, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain explained that local authorities were also informed that three GISBH businesses in one foreign country were found to have ceased operations.
Shuhaily, however, did not name the countries and mentioned that Bukit Aman is working closely with Interpol to gather data about GISBH’s businesses in nine other jurisdictions.
“As mentioned by authorities previously, there are 19 countries where GISBH operates. So we are waiting for information from nine other countries.
“They are located in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East. This is no secret, just browse the internet and you will know where,” Shuhaily said during a press conference today.
Meanwhile, the CID chief also touched on GISBH’s supposed links to the outlawed religious group Al-Arqam, pointing out to the public that the crackdown on the group in 1994 must be taken into context of the time when the incident happened.
He explained that when former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration went after Al-Arqam in the early 90s, there were preventative laws which allowed authorities to circumvent judicial processes.
Now, however, investigations against Al-Arqam are being conducted transparently with the due process of law, Shuhaily explained.
He also highlighted that in the current investigations, police have arrested 415 individuals in total, with 16 detained today under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 including GISBH CEO Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, who was previously remanded under the Criminal Procedure Act.
Shuhaily also added that the police have opened 97 investigation papers to probe various crimes including participation in an organised crime group under Section 130V of the Penal Code.
Other offences are being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, Income Tax Act 1967, and the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
In total, authorities have also frozen and seized assets amounting to RM19.9 million under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
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.
In total, Shuhaily said today that a total of 625 victims have been rescued in the operation, which is entering its fourth phase.
The organisation previously denied operating the care centres raided by authorities while distancing itself from child exploitation allegations. – October 10, 2024