SHAH ALAM: The chief executive officer of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) and his wife are among 19 people remanded for seven days starting today.
The remand application for the individuals, aged between 25 and 65, was submitted before Magistrate Wan Noora Nisa Ngadirin at the magistrate's court here.
They are currently being held at the central lockup of the district police headquarters here.
The 19 people, comprising 12 men and seven women, believed to be senior leaders of GISB, arrived at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Court Complex at about 2.50pm.
Earlier, Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed the arrest of the 19 people during an early morning Op Global operation.
He said that the coordinated operation with the D8 Division of Bukit Aman and the Special Integrated Investigation Team from the Criminal Investigation Department was conducted simultaneously at four residential units in Bukit Bintang, at 5.40 am.
Last week, the Bukit Aman CID raided 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan linked to GISB Holdings, rescuing 402 children and teenagers—201 boys and 201 girls—aged between one and 17.
Razarudin, previously had said that health screenings conducted on 392 children rescued from the homes found evidence of physical and emotional abuse.
The children were also suspected of being exploited for labour by being forced to sell goods.
GISB has since denied the allegations of child exploitation and sexual abuse.
On Tuesday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had decreed that the police conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged criminal misconduct and child abuse issues linked to GISB.