Celebrity preacher PU Azman charged with sexual assault for the third time
AMPANG - Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias, better known as PU Azman, was charged for the third time at the Sessions Court, here today, with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old male teenager.
Clad in a blue kurta and gray pants, 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him before judge Norhazani Hamzah.
According to the charge sheet, Azman had committed the offence inside a room at a resort in Hulu Langat here, on July 22.
The charge was under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 carries an imprisonment term for up to 20 years and whipping, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Norhashimah Hashim said if bail was to be granted to the accused upon the court's discretion, the prosecution suggested a high amount considering the seriousness of the offence.
"The victim in this case was a child, not to mention that the case received public attention due to the status of the accused. I hope will also be prohibited from contacting the witness," she said.
In pleading for bail to be granted, Azman's lawyer Mohamad Zahid Ahmad said his client was accused with a similar offence at the Klang Court which granted RM24,000 bail while the Seremban Sessions Court granted him RM40,000 bail.
"I plead for a minimum bail amount to be imposed with additional conditions on my client," he added.
After both requests were heard, Norhazani granted RM10,000 bail to the accused with one surety, and to report himself at the nearest police station once a month.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and ordered to stay away from the victim.
The court set Feb 10, next year for mention.
On Dec 7, Azman was charged at the Klang Sessions Court and magistrate's court with four counts of sexually assaulting three teenage boys between February and August, this year.
He was also charged at the Seremban Sessions Court on Oct 12 with five counts of sexually assaulting two 17-year old boys in February and July, the same year.
