Senior GISBH management under 16 arrested again under SOSMA

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 16 individuals, including senior management of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), were today re-arrested under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) in connection with allegations of child exploitation and indoctrination of religious fanaticism.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said 58 persons have been detained under the same law since the launch of Op Global in September.

He said authorities arrested 415 people and rescued 625 victims between the ages of two months and 28 years during the month-long operation.

“Of these, 553 victims have been placed in 13 shelters run by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), while 72 have been handed over to family members,” he told a press conference at Op Global held at the Police Training Center here today. .

Mohd Shuhaily said the recovery process of all affected children is being carried out meticulously and rigorously by JKM.

Mohd Shuhaily said that of the 415 detainees, 273 have been released on bail, 37 have been released without conditions, 35 are still in custody, two have been transferred to Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department, while one has been transferred to the Immigration Department for deportation.

He said 97 investigation papers have been opened for various offences, including one under Article 130v of the Criminal Code and Article 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.

Of these, 12 investigative papers involving nine people resulted in 34 charges, including 20 charges under section 14(a) and section 14(b) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, Article 354 of the Criminal Code and Article 506 of the Criminal Code.

He said four investigation papers relate to two cases under Article 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007, and one under Article 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Act. Offenses Against Children 2017 and section 5. (1) of the Child Care Centers Act 1993, all of which have been committed for prosecution by the Attorney General’s Chambers and will be charged shortly.

“The police investigation is ongoing and these arrests were made following interrogations. As long as investigations continue to uncover remnants of GISBH supporters that pose a threat to national security, we will persevere,” he said.

Regarding the raids on GISBH indoctrination centers, he said several centers were raided during the fourth phase of Op Global but were found to be closed.

“We will provide details of the number of centers involved. To date, no victims have come forward reporting indoctrination at these locations,” he added.

Mohd Shuhaily also urged former members or followers of GISBH to come forward with any information to support the investigation.

He said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain’s appeal for former members and followers of GISBH to provide information about the organization has been positively received, with some individuals joining in to support the investigation.

He confirmed that authorities used 12 different laws in their investigation during Op Global, including the Child Act 2001, the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, ATIPSOM 2007, the Child Care Centers Act 1984, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, the Income Tax Act 1967 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.