KUALA LUMPUR: The process to interview the 402 rescued children from 18 care homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB), is still in the early stages, says Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
The Inspector-General of Police said the process would likely take at least two weeks.
"In the meantime, the children will be placed at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) where the interviews and documentation processes can be conducted," he said when contacted on Thursday (Sept 12).
He said investigators would take special care during the interview of the supposedly exploited children.
"We will definitely probe allegations of sexual assaults and sodomy.
"On top of that, we will also check whether the children are being sent to school as well.
"If they are not, then it is an offence. If the schools or care centres (they are going to) are not licensed, that is an offence as well," he said.
The IGP said police will also work with the Welfare Department to provide counselling and emotional support for the children.
"Again, it is still in the early stages thus we have to take it a step at a time.
"As it involves children, we have to take special care as well," he said.
The children were allegedly sodomised and forced to do the same to others at the care homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan that were raided by police.
The IGP had said this was only the tip of the iceberg of the horrific abuses the children were allegedly subjected to at the homes linked to GISB.
Police rescued 402 children, comprising 201 boys and 201 girls, aged between one and 17, from the 18 care homes in a rescue operation called Ops Global.
Razarudin said 171 suspects, aged between 17 and 64, were arrested, including a teacher and dorm caretakers.
