KUALA LUMPUR: Investigations into the members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB), who were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012, found that all the criteria required to categorise their activities as organised crime had been met.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the application of Sosma was based on police investigations under Section 130V of the Penal Code, which allowed the activities to be classified as organised crime.
"The elements of the offence include that the perpetrators are more than two individuals, it involves an objective - in this case, the exploitation of children - and there is an element of material profit," he said in his winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat today.
On Oct 15, members of parliament from both sides criticised the detention of several GISB members under Sosma.
Government backbencher Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) said despite the organisation's alleged promotion of deviant teachings, its members still retain legal rights under Malaysian law.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) described the use of Sosma as unwise, given that the organisation does not involve any violent elements.
On Oct 10, 16 GISB members, including its chief executive officer, were detained under Sosma.
The organisation has been under scrutiny following police raids on Sept 11 at 20 welfare homes allegedly operated by the organisation, which led to the rescue of 402 people, most of whom are children.