30/09/2024

MONDAY | SEP 30, 2024

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

GISBH faces legal action over failure to pay tithe

Body of drowned woman found

ALOR SETAR: The body of a woman who was reportedly swept away by strong currents along with her son in Kampung Tanjung Kanan, near Kuala Nerang, was found drowned at 7.45am yesterday. Kedah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 1 head senior superintendent Ahmad Aminuddin Abd Rahim said the body of Salmah Mat Zain, 46, was found 50m from where the body of her son, Muhammad Rosman Rohadi, 19, was discovered on Saturday. “The search and rescue operation resumed at 7.28am and during initial monitoring at the location, the victim’s body was found near the palm plantation. The body was then handed over to the police at 7.50am for further action and the operation was called off afterward,” he said in a statement yesterday. The media had previously reported that the mother and son were swept away by strong currents at about 8am during a flood, as they attempted to cross the water to return to their home in Kampung Tanjung Kanan on Saturday. The body of Muhammad Rosman, who was also a person with a disability, was found at 5.25pm, about 150m from the location where the two victims were last seen being swept away. Padang Terap district police chief DSP Mulkiaman Manzar, who was at the scene of the incident yesterday morning, advised residents in the district not to attempt to wade through floodwaters. – Bernama Soldier drowns in Linggiu Dam boating incident KOTA TINGGI: A soldier was found dead, believed to have drowned, following a boating accident at Linggiu Dam in Bandar Tenggara. Kota Tinggi police chief Supt Yusof Othman said they received a distress call regarding the 32-year-old deceased at 2.35am on Saturday. The soldier was on duty aboard an Armed Forces boat with three others when their vessel allegedly struck a floating log, causing all four men to be thrown overboard. “While the other three managed to swim to safety, the victim went missing. Despite their efforts to locate him, they were unsuccessful and alerted their supervisor,”Yusof said. The victim’s body was recovered by divers at about 11.50am, submerged 13m deep and approximately seven meters from where he was last seen. “The body has since been transferred to the forensic unit at Kota Tinggi Hospital for further investigation,” Yusof added, noting that the case has been classified as sudden death. – Bernama Remand extended for cash flow operator SHAH ALAM: The Magistrate’s Court has extended the remand of two individuals, including one believed to be acting as a cash flow operator for GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH). The remand, which ended yesterday, has been extended for five more days. The order to extend the remand of the man and woman, both in their 50s, was issued by deputy registrar Nurshahira Abdul Salim. The two individuals were initially remanded for seven days on Sept 23. It is understood that both individuals were taken to the lockup at the Shah Alam police district headquarters. On Friday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that police had arrested an individual believed to be a GISBH cash flow operator through Op Global Phase 4 in Butterworth, Penang, on Sept 23. – Bernama

o Authorities reveal multiple linked companies yet to fulfil zakat obligations or pay business taxes

national – as well as two women and a man, aged between 18 and 55. They are being investigated under Section 31(a) of the Child Act 2001 and the Anti Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Act 2022. The court also extended the remand of 10 additional individuals for a period of four to seven days to facilitate the ongoing investigation into the GISBH case. The individuals include eight men and two women aged between 22 and 53 who were previously remanded for a week. The investigation is being conducted under Section 31(a) of the Child Act 2001, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Act 2022. On Sept 11, police launched a raid on 20 welfare homes linked to GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, following allegations of child abuse, labour exploitation and religious manipulation. Since the operation began, more than 300 individuals, including the top management of GISBH, have been arrested and 572 victims have been rescued.

KUALA LUMPUR: The shortcomings of GISBH Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) are increasingly coming to light, highlighted by the recent revelation that the company has never made any payments for business zakat or tithe. The Selangor Zakat Board (SZB) announced that over 20 GISBH-linked companies have never paid zakat and the board is unable to determine the amount owed as it has never received any information regarding the company’s assets and liabilities. According to SZB, legal action can be taken against GISBH for failing to pay zakat under the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, which provides penalties of imprisonment and fines for those who deliberately avoid paying zakat . Previously, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said based on cooperation between police and the Inland

Revenue Board, it was discovered that the GISBH network has never paid any business taxes. He added that this corroborates investigations conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police under the Income Tax Act 1967. The Selangor government has taken firm action by ordering the closure of all GISBH premises in the state and seizing their assets. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said he will personally announce the total number of premises, including shelters and religious schools associated with GISBH, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court on Saturday granted a seven-day remand for seven individuals to assist in investigations, Bernama reported. The individuals under remand are believed to include four wives of a senior GISBH leader – one of whom is a foreign

An individual associated with GISBH being escorted by police. – BERNAMAPIC

Elderly scammed of RM255m in first eight months KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,916 elderly individuals aged 61 and above fell victim to online scams during the first eight months of this year, resulting in losses amounting to RM255,367,680.39. He explained that the woman received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from the customer service unit in Putrajaya, informing her that her phone number had been misused in a cybercrime case.

RM552,512,422.66 or 20% of the total. “Similar figures have been recorded for this year, with losses involving elderly victims reaching RM255,367,680.39 by August, which accounts for 27.9% of the total losses recorded, amounting to RM914,051,236.30,” he added. He emphasised the importance of disseminating crime prevention information, particularly regarding online fraud, to elderly individuals and urged family members to advise their parents, relatives or friends to remain vigilant and cautious of any suspicious calls. “Believing and following all instructions received over the phone can put victims at risk of robbery or fraud. For verification, it is advisable to cross-check with the relevant agency by contacting the phone number obtained from the official website,” he said. Ramli also informed that a 72-year-old retired woman lost more than RM600,000 after being deceived by an individual impersonating a police officer over the phone on Sept 20.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said while the number of elderly victims is relatively small, the financial losses incurred by this demographic are significant, making them a prime target for scammers. “Over the past three years (2021 to 2023), a total of 86,266 individuals have been victims of online fraud, of which 5,533 victims or 6.4%, are aged 61 and above,” he said in a statement. He noted that a similar trend has been observed this year, with 1,916 elderly victims or 8.9%, among the 21,535 recorded online fraud cases as of August this year. Throughout these three years, total recorded losses from online fraud cases amounted to RM2,768,396,952.40, with losses involving elderly victims accounting to

He noted that the caller then instructed her to apply for personal data protection and fund protection before transferring the call to another person impersonating a police officer. “The victim was subsequently informed that she was also involved in a money laundering case and, for the purpose of the investigation, was directed to consolidate all her savings into a single bank account in her name, providing the banking information to the ‘police’. “The victim was also instructed to hand over all her jewellery and gold bars to an individual who came to collect the items from her home. In total, the victim suffered losses of cash, jewelry, gold dinars and gold bars amounting to RM670,994,” he said, adding that a police report was filed regarding the case on Saturday. – Bernama