Malaysian police expanded their probe Friday into a major Islamic business organisation with links to a banned sect, after hundreds of children were rescued from alleged abuse at care homes believed to be run by the group.
Investigators stormed 20 charity shelters across two Malaysian states on Wednesday, arresting 171 suspects including Islamic teachers and caregivers, and bringing to safety 400 children and teens.
In what is believed to be the worst such case to hit Malaysia in decades, police suspect the victims — aged from one to 17 — had been subjected to sexual and physical attacks.
They were also allegedly forced by the care home staff to abuse each other.
Investigators were “working towards” further raids and arrests as the probe on the organisation called Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) continues, said police inspector-general Razarudin Husain at a press conference.
Investigations and health checks so far show …