Malaysian teacher sentenced to 10 years for child abuse in GISB-linked school scandal

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA: A 23-year-old Jawi teacher, who was also a caretaker from a religious school linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) was sentenced to 10 years in prison for physically abusing three pupils, with one incident involving kneeling on a student’s chest. The Klang Sessions Court handed down the sentence after the teacher Muhammad Barur Rahim Hisam pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. Judge Noridah Adam ordered Barur to serve two years for each of the first two charges and three years each for the third and fourth charges. These sentences will run consecutively, starting from his arrest. The court also imposed a five-year good behaviour bond, secured by a RM10,000 (approximately US$2,421) surety. If Barur violates the bond, he will face an additional six-month jail term. Barur, who was unrepresented in court, initially said he had nothing to offer in mitigation but later expressed regret, asking for a lighter sentence. "I am truly repentant and vow not to repeat it. I am 23, unmarried, and supporting my parents," he said. The charges relate to separate incidents of abuse involving three boys aged 10 and 11 at two schools in Bandar Bukit Raja, Klang. Barur, who also served as a warden, was accused of repeatedly caning two boys on their palms and kneeling on the chest of a third student. These incidents occurred in June, July, and September of this year. Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 prescribes a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail or a fine of up to RM50,000 for child abuse. The act also requires courts to impose a good behaviour bond and community service as additional measures.

Prosecutor Criticises the caretaker's Action As "Inhumane"

During the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, stating that Barur's actions were "inhumane" and should serve as a deterrent to others. "As a caretaker, he should have protected these children. " "Instead, his acts of abuse, which were caught on video and went viral, have caused public outrage. The trauma inflicted on the victims will likely haunt them for years," she said. The facts of the case revealed that Barur caned one of the boys five times for littering, while another victim was caned six times on the palm. Barur also abused a third student with a rotan, broomstick, and badminton racket, and recorded himself kneeling on the child's chest while the boy screamed. Medical reports confirmed the boys sustained multiple bruises and injuries. Videos of the abuse went viral on social media, drawing public condemnation. The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, confirmed that GISB, the organisation linked to the school where Barur worked, had been under police scrutiny since 2011. Several cases of child abuse linked to GISB-operated homes have surfaced, prompting a police crackdown known as "Op Global." Launched on 11 September, the operation targeted 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan operated by GISB, leading to the rescue of 402 children, some as young as one year old. Subsequent raids have brought the total number of rescued children to 572, and 355 individuals, including religious teachers, have been arrested. Investigations revealed that many children had suffered physical and emotional abuse, and 13 were victims of sexual assaults, including sodomy. In response to these revelations, GISB chairman Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali acknowledged that "one or two" cases of sodomy had occurred within the organisation's welfare homes but insisted they involved only a few individuals.

Sultan of Selangor Orders Immediate Closure of Unregistered GISB-Linked Charity Homes and Schools

On 21 September, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ordered the immediate closure of all unregistered charity homes and Islamic schools linked to GISB in the state. The Sultan expressed disappointment over the criminal activities reported and emphasised the need to protect children from further harm. He noted that many of these homes had been operating illegally for years without proper registration, particularly in Selangor.