KUALA LUMPUR: The head of Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department has defended the police over claims it acted "excessively" against Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB).
Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said police acted on evidence, and that the probe into the company was transparent.
He was responding to criticisms by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the police's actions against GISB.
Dr Mahathir had said in an interview that the police's actions against GISB were excessive compared to those taken against the Al-Arqam group in the 1990s.
"It is not appropriate to compare the police action against GISB with those taken in 1994 (against Al-Arqam), because of the different provisions of the law," Shuhaily told a press conference today.
"In 1994, we had a preventive law where we did not have to go through the judicial system. Now, all our arrests are brought through the open legal system, where we have to find evidence. The procedure is very transparent," he said.
GISB has been at the centre of police investigations since Sept 11, when raids on 20 welfare homes, allegedly linked to the organisation, led to the rescue of 402 children.
A comprehensive medical evaluation revealed that many of the children had suffered physical and emotional abuse, with 13 reportedly being sodomised.
Despite the allegations, GISB has denied any involvement in child exploitation or sexual abuse.