Malaysian police have rescued 402 children and teenagers that they suspect were physically and sexually abused across 20 care homes.
The victims, aged between one to 17, were said to have endured various forms of abuse, with some allegedly forced to perform sexual acts on other children, said Police Inspector-General Razarudin Husain at a press conference.
Police have arrested 171 suspects, including religious teachers and caretakers.
The care homes are allegedly linked to a prominent Islamic conglomerate which has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing.
Police raids on Wednesday across 20 welfare homes in the states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan were prompted by reports earlier this month of child exploitation, molestation, and sexual abuse at another facility in Negeri Sembilan state.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Insp Razarudin told reporters that some of the suspects – aged between 17 to 64 – would allegedly touch the children, claiming it was part of a religious treatment.
Some children were also reportedly taught to perform similar sexual acts on other children at home.
Children were also “punished using heated metal objects” and those who were ill were not allowed to seek medical treatment until their condition turned critical, he added.
The children will be temporarily housed at a police centre in the capital Kuala Lumpur and will undergo health checks, said Insp Razarudin.
The raids come days after police opened an investigation against the Islamic Global Ikhwan Group (GISB) business group over child exploitation. The police have since confirmed that the two cases are linked.
