KUALA LUMPUR: The police said Monday they have rescued 187 more children and raided locations nationwide linked to an Islamic business group being investigated for alleged sexual assault of children.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the children and young people, including 59 under age 5, were rescued from welfare homes linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings.

They included a boy who was seen being caned and another child who was seen being stepped on in online videos, Razarudin said.

That brought the number of children under age 18 who have been rescued to 572 since the case against GISB erupted earlier this month.

Police also arrested 156 more suspects for investigation, he said.

Police say some children are believed to have been sodomised and taught to sexually abuse one another, denied medical treatment and burned with hot metal spoons as punishment.

Medical screening so far has determined that at least 13 teens were sodomised and 172 children suffered long-term physical and emotional injuries.

The victims are mostly children of GISB employees, placed in the homes since they were infants and believed to be indoctrinated from a young age to be loyal to the group, police say.

The increased police action against GISB came after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong called for a swift police investigation and action in the case, which has shocked and enraged the nation.

Razarudin said there were an estimated 10,000 employees and followers of GISB believed to be practicing the Al-Arqam teachings.

He said police have raided 280 locations nationwide linked to GISB, but most have been vacated.

In 59 of the locations, police seized Islamic books and materials with deviant teachings, he said.

Authorities have frozen 138 bank accounts linked to GISB with a total value of about RM1.9 million, and 14 properties as part of a probe into money laundering.