Malaysia freezes almost 100 accounts linked to Islamic group in child abuse at care homes

Malaysian authorities have frozen close to 100 bank accounts belonging to a conglomerate accused of running care homes where hundreds of children were allegedly abused, police said on Tuesday.

In what is believed to be the worst such case to hit Malaysia in decades, police arrested 171 suspects including religious studies teachers and carers and brought to safety over 400 children after storming 20 charity shelters.

At the heart of the investigation is the Global Ikhwan Service and Business (GISB) group, which has long been controversial for its links to the now-defunct Al-Arqam sect.

On Tuesday, Malaysia’s police chief Razarudin Husain said authorities have frozen 96 accounts linked to the group, containing around US$124,000.

“We have also seized eight vehicles linked to the company,” he said.