KUALA LUMPUR: The 24 people including Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) chief executive officer and other top brass currently under remand to facilitate an Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 probe are expected to be held further.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the 24 individuals were re-arrested after their remand ended on Sept 30 and a five day remand had been granted to facilitate investigations over alleged force labour offences.
"We will seek to extend the remand order further as the current remand ends on Oct 4.
"To date a total of 93 suspects involving GISB members are currently under remand while 34 others are being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma)," he said when contacted today.
It was reported that the remand for GISB chief executive officer and 24 others had been extended for another five days.
Razarudin was quoted as saying that the police would be remanded from today (Sept 30) following a police report lodged by the company's staff over forced labour allegations.
Their remand follows a report lodged by a victim in Cheras, who was allegedly exploited by the suspect.
It was reported on Sept 25 that police received 10 reports of forced labour allegations involving GISB.
The victims, aged between 14 and their early 20s, came forward following a public appeal by the authorities.The incidents allegedly occurred in several locations including Miri, Rawang, and Alor Star, from 2013 to 2024.
GISB 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, the majority of whom are children.
Subsequent screenings revealed that many of the children had suffered physical and emotional abuse, with 13 reportedly victims of sexual assault, including sodomy.
GISB has denied all allegations of child exploitation and abuse.