Caretaker of GISBH-linked welfare home pleads not guilty to child abuse

The caretaker of charity homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) pleaded not guilty at the Selayang Sessions Court to charges of abusing a six-year-old child under the care of one of its homes.

Mohd Syahid Hanapiah, 35, made the plea when the charges were read out to him before judge Lailatul Zuraida Harron @ Haron.

Syahid (above) was accused of caning the victim in the morning between February and September this year at premises in Bandar Country Homes Rawang, Selangor.

The charges were framed under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, a maximum imprisonment of 20 years, or both.

Lailatul allowed RM10,000 bail with one surety and agreed to the request by the prosecution to impose three conditions on the accused, according to reports.

The three conditions are for Syahid to not meet or disturb the victims or prosecution witnesses until the completion of the case, to report himself at the nearest police station every month and to keep himself available to be contacted by the authorities at any time.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal requested the judge to not accord bail to the accused but acknowledged that was under the court's discretion to set a RM20,000 bail with one surety, and three conditions.

Syahid, who was unrepresented, asked for lower bail, saying he faced domestic, financial and work-related problems.

Police launched Ops Global at the beginning of last month and have raided charity homes across Peninsular Malaysia linked to GISBH, suspected of being involved in child and religious exploitation activities.

As a result, 572 victims were rescued while 359 followers of GISBH, including its senior management, were arrested.

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