Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said police had been investigating the company since 2011, long before allegations against GISBH went viral on social media recently.

He said police also met representatives of Pusat Kajian Ajaran Sesat (Pukas) six months ago.

“They were the ones who channelled initial information and facilitated the reopening of investigations of various police reports lodged against GISBH,” he told Bernama today.

Razarudin said police also received a report lodged by a former GISBH member from Negeri Sembilan who, however, later retracted the report.

“The woman later lodged a new report and we opened investigations under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001,” he said.

He said she also gave police credible leads.

Razarudin said although investigations began six months ago, police were not slow to act and they could only make arrests after receiving credible leads.

“I urge former GISBH members who had lodged police reports, before retracting them, to come forward and help in the investigations,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Bukit Aman criminal investigation department rescued 402 people – 201 boys and 201 girls – aged between one and 17, when they raided 20 care homes linked to a company alleged to be involved in religious and child exploitation.