A suspect Muhammad Miqdam Muhammad Amir is escorted by police officers at the Magistrate’s Court (Municipal) in Butterworth. ( October 14, 2024 ) — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
BUTTERWORTH: All 16 residents of Rumah Jagaan Harapan Al Mahabbah in Nibong Tebal are now under the care of the state Welfare Department after the home was raided for allegedly having links to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB).
It is learnt that the children, aged between three and 17, who are residents of the home in Jalan Bagan Buaya, were placed at Kompleks Penyayang Sinar Kasih in Nibong Tebal.
The home was one of the four shelters in Seberang Perai that were shuttered following a raid last month.
The raid was carried out by the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department in collaboration with police, Welfare Department, Labour Department, Seberang Perai City Council, National Registration Department and the Health Ministry.
Among the premises that were raided are Rumah Jagaan Harapan Al Mahabbah, Permata Kasih Care Centre at Taman Seri Mengkuang in Kubang Semang, Ikhwan Cake and Bread Shop and Ikhwan BP Mart in Bandar Perda.
Rumah Jagaan Harapan Al Mahabbah is one of the two homes raided believed to be linked to GISB.
Following the raid and police investigation, a warden employed at the home was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a then 13-year-old boy.
Muhammad Miqdam Muhammad Amir, 23, was charged in the Session Court yesterday with sexually abusing the boy by allegedly touching his private parts at Rumah Jagaan Harapan Al Mahabbah.
The offence allegedly took place at about midnight on July 11, 2022, at the home’s dormitory.
The charge under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, carries a maximum 20-year imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
