KUALA LUMPUR: Police operations against Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings' (GISB) charity homes were conducted following investigations into criminal offences.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the raids were not targeted at economic activities of any race. He said the basic human rights of the children being exploited transcended all else.
Shuhaily said he was aware of some sympathisers' comments, with some alleging that the police action was conducted to target the group's economic activities.
"We conducted our operation and investigations from the angle of criminal offences," he told TV3 during a special Buletin TV3 Edisi Khas podcast today.
He said that there was a nexus in their investigations and it was this nexus that enabled prosecutions.
"Once we can get to the level of prosecution, that means the investigation did not involve hearsay. There was alleged exploitation of children being committed for their business activities.
"I think in other developed countries, such actions would not be accepted as well," he said.
Shuhaily said there were international standards tied to the protection of basic human rights involving children.
"As a member of law enforcement, I don't feel like I was targeting the economic activities of a Malay group. It does not matter what religion you are, be it Buddhist or Hindu, the rights of children transcend it.
against GISB on Sept 11 through Phase 1 of Op Global which saw them rescue 402 minors from alleged exploitation.
The 201 boys and 201 girls from 18 charity homes in Selangor and two in Negri Sembilan were rescued between 6am and 11am.
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 they were in critical condition.