Malaysia widens probe into 'horror' care home child abuse

Malaysian police expanded their probe Friday into a major Islamic business organization 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 organization 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 that at least 13 minors had been sexually abused, said Razarudin.

The children, who are temporarily being housed in a police training centre in Kuala Lumpur among other locations, are still undergoing medical examinations, added the police chief.

Razarudin had said on Wednesday that children as young as five were burnt with hot spoons, while others who were ill were not allowed to seek treatment until their condition became critical.

"The caretakers also touched the children's bodies as if to carry out medical checks," he said.

GISB has denied the allegations and said they do not run the care homes.

"It is not our policy to do things that go against Islam, and the laws," the group said in a statement this week.

- DNA samples -

GISB has long been controversial for its links to the now-defunct Al-Arqam sect and has faced scrutiny by the religious authorities in the Muslim-majority country.

Al-Arqam was banned by the authorities in 1994 for deviant teachings, while members of the GISB had in 2011 set up an "Obedient Wives Club" that called on women to be "whores in bed" to stop their husbands from straying.

According to its website, GISB runs businesses from supermarkets to restaurants, and operates in several countries including Indonesia, France and the United Kingdom.

Police believe the minors in the care homes were all children of GISB members.

"We believe that all 402 children are fathered by GISB members. That's our suspicion at the moment," police inspector-general Razarudin Husain told AFP on Thursday.

"We feel that there's a need for DNA samples to be taken."

Islamic religious authorities in the Malaysian state of Selangor said this week they were closely monitoring GISB's activities.

"(We) remain vigilant about any facts leading to deviations from true Islamic teachings," they said.

The multi-ethnic country has a dual-track legal system with Muslims subject to sharia laws in certain areas.

The UN children's agency had underlined the "unimaginable horror" faced by the victims.

"These children have experienced unimaginable horrors and will need long-term professional medical and psychosocial support," said Robert Gass, the Malaysia representative for UNICEF.

The case has also rattled locals.

"This incident is very shocking and sudden," said 37-year-old resident Uzair Abdul Aziz.