22 charged with abuse of minors in Malaysia: Video
Nasiruddin Mohamad Ali, the CEO of Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB), appeared in court alongside 21 other members of the organisation on October 23.
They face charges related to their involvement in an organised crime group linked to widespread child abuse at welfare homes managed by the firm.
Nasiruddin, along with his wife Azura Md Yusof and other senior leaders, was charged at the Selayang Sessions Court in Selangor state, near Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, October 23.
The charges stem from an extensive investigation that uncovered the abuse of hundreds of children in facilities operated by GISB.
During the court proceedings, Nasiruddin and the other accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court has set a date for the next hearing, where further evidence will be presented.
However, the defence lawyer for Nasiruddin, Rosli Kamaruddin has vowed to deal with the case to the very end. Additionally, he will appeal if he has to.
"We will deal with it. We will appeal to the prosecution regarding this case. We will also see if there are other cases against all the suspects. Also, when there is a case, the defence team will deal with it. We will handle this case according to the law," he told some reporters outside the courthouse.
GISB, an Islamic business conglomerate, has been under scrutiny for its connections to the Al-Arqam religious group, which has been labelled as deviant by Malaysian authorities.
The investigation revealed that children in GISB's care were subjected to severe abuse, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
