SINGAPORE: A former Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) member from Singapore claims she suffered abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, the son of an “influential” person in the group.
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The woman, who only wanted to be known as Zoey, said she was only 17 when she was forced to marry her ex-husband.
They would have nine children over the 14-year marriage, which she claimed was filled with abuse, including being beaten while she was pregnant and forced upon multiple times a day.
“I was a sex slave to my husband,” Zoey told Singapore’s Channel News Asia.
She said her introduction to the group began when she was a child. Her parents were GISB members.
Zoey said she grew up in hostels run by GISB in Indonesia and Selangor, and at the age of 17, was forced to marry a man 10 years her senior.
Just a week into the marriage, her ex-husband began kicking and hitting her, she said.
“While I was pregnant, all the way until I gave birth, whenever he wants to have sex, at any time, I have to say yes,” said Zoey.
After three years, Zoey said she sought to leave the man and even lodged a police report against him.
However, her father-in-law told her to withdraw the report and promised that his son would change.
“He also said that a divorce will bring shame to (GISB),” said Zoey.
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Later, she tried to divorce him again but this time, her mother talked her out of it.
Zoey alleged her ex-husband would also abuse and threaten their children.
The final straw for Zoey was when her daughters told her they wanted to leave because of the abuse.
Zoey, with the help of some relatives, lodged a police report. Her mother, once a staunch member, was persuaded by another family member to help Zoey leave the group.
Subsequently, Zoey and her children were moved to a safe house for abused women and children run by an NGO.
In 2021, she filed for divorce and left for Singapore with the help of the republic’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Zoey now lives in Singapore with her nine children, running a home-based business.
In the report, CNA said it reached out to GISB but did not receive a response.
GISB is at the centre of a police probe involving alleged exploitation, abuse and forced labour.
Since September, police have rescued over 400 children aged between 1 and 17 who were believed to have been exploited and abused.
GISB has since denied the allegations.
-NewStraitsTime