PETALING JAYA: Celebrity preacher Da'i Syed (pic) has claimed trial to two counts of sexual offences involving a 22-year-old college student.
The 25-year-old, whose full name is Syed Shah Iqmal Syed Mohd Shaiful Jamalullail, was brought to the Sessions Court here on Thursday (Dec 10).
He was accused of committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature against the victim at a unit in Empire City, Damansara Perdana.
The offence was allegedly committed between 3am and 4am on Oct 17.
The charge under Section 377B of the Penal Code carries imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Dai' Syed pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Sessions Court judge Faiz Dziyauddin.
Deputy public prosecutor P. Vitiya Monisha did not offer bail on grounds that the crime allegedly committed by the accused was a serious offence.
"The accused is also facing other cases and he and the victim know each other.
"There is a possibility that the accused could harass the victim," she said.
Vitiya Monisha however said that if the court allowed bail, the prosecution would be proposing a RM100,000 bail with additional conditions – namely the accused must report to the nearest police station and refrain from coming near the victim.
Da'i Syed's lawyer Syed Amirul Syed Edros argued that while this was a non-bailable offence, the court still has discretion to grant bail to the accused.
"The accused has given full cooperation throughout the investigation. He voluntarily went to the police station without protest," Syed Amirul said.
The lawyer asked for his client to be allowed a minimum bail amount as Da'i Syed no longer earns an income since the pandemic.
The court then allowed bail at RM20,000 in one surety and imposed additional conditions.
Da'i Syed was told to report to the nearest police station monthly and not to go near the victim until the case is disposed of.
The case is fixed for mention on Feb 19 next year.
He was later brought to the Magistrate's Court to face another charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
Dai' Syed pleaded not guilty to using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of the same victim at the same place and time.
He faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, or fine, or whipping, or any two of the punishments, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Zamriah Zarifah Aris told the court that the accused's celebrity preacher status was not an excuse for him to be let out on bail.
Meanwhile, Syed Amirul asked the court to allow bail and said his client has been supporting his mother after his father left the family in 2017.
Magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir allowed bail at RM5,000 in one surety and fixed Feb 19 for mention.
At the Shah Alam Sessions Court, Da’i Syed claimed trial to raping a 23-year-old woman.
According to the charge sheet, he allegedly raped the victim at a room in Hyde Tower, I-City, Seksyen 7 in Shah Alam at about 11.35pm on Sept 11, last year.
The charge under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Baizura Mohd Saubian did not offer bail.
Syed Amirul however pleaded for a minimum bail amount and said his client was not a flight risk.
“He is already facing a total of RM25,000 for bail which poses a huge financial burden on him.
“The fact that he is a public figure makes it even harder to abscond, ” he said.
Sessions Court judge Rofiah Mohamad allowed bail at RM10,000 in one surety and ordered for the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
The case is fixed for mention on Jan 25 next year.