KUALA LUMPUR: Rehabilitation of followers of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) must adopt a multi-faceted approach.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain emphasised that in managing post-investigation cases involving these followers, authorities must not solely focus on their spiritual beliefs.
"Based on our observations, many of these followers were lost once GISB collapsed.
"This is because GISB provided them with housing, work, and child care. Their support system disappeared," he told TV3 during a special BuletinTV3 Edisi Khas podcast today.
He said nearly half of all the children rescued have been handed over to their parents.
"In the context of GISB, the top management has been arrested and is currently facing legal action.
"What then happens to the followers? They should enrol in rehabilitation programmes, but this cannot be forced upon them. They must be willing to enrol," he said.
Mohd Shuhaily said the responsibility now lies within the community to ensure that these deviant beliefs are no longer practised.
Police began their operations against the group on Sept 11 through Phase 1 of Op Global which saw them rescue 402 minors from alleged exploitation.
They rescued 201 boys and 201 girls from 18 charity homes in Selangor and two in Negri Sembilan.
Police investigations into some of the welfare homes raided led to claims of sodomy and abuse against these children.
Investigations also revealed that children who were ill were allegedly not allowed to seek medical care until their conditions worsened.
On Oct 23, GISB chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali and his wife, Datin Azura Md Yusof, were charged at the Sessions Court with being members of an organised criminal group.
They were accused of being members of the organised criminal group under GISB Holdings between Oct 2020 to Sept 11 this year at Bandar Country Homes in Rawang, Selangor.
They were charged under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of not less than five years and a maximum of 20 years.
Also charged were 20 others believed to be the top management of the group.
As of Dec 5, more than 130 children linked to GISB were still under the care of the Welfare Department and waiting to be returned to their parents.