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KLANG: Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias, better known as PU Azman (pic), has been ordered to enter his defence on two charges of committing physical sexual assault on a 17-year-old boy.
Sessions Court judge Syafeera Mohd Said made the decision Tuesday (Dec 26) after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against the accused.
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"After hearing and examining the prosecution witnesses and all the evidence and examining the prosecution’s arguments, the court decided that the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against the accused on the first and second charges.
"Therefore, the accused is ordered to enter his defence,” she said in her judgment.
In the dock, Azman Syah appeared calm as the ruling was read, and was given three options: to testify under oath on the witness stand where he can be cross-examined; to testify from the dock; or to remain silent.
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The accused chose to testify under oath on the witness stand for his defence trial.
Azman Syah was charged with two counts of committing physical sexual assault on a 17-year-old boy at a homestay in Kampung Sungai Udang here at 12.15am on Feb 20 and 1am on June 29 last year.
The charges were framed under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Syafeera then set Jan 12 for mention of the case.
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Seven prosecution witnesses were called to testify in the trial which began on Sept 5.
DPPs Nur Ayuni Jamri and Nurul Izzati Mohamad appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by Mohamad Zahid Ahmad.
Azman Syah is also facing nine more charges related to sexual crimes he allegedly committed against teenage boys, namely five charges in the Seremban Sessions Court, two in the Shah Alam Sessions Court and one case each in a Klang Magistrate's Court and the Ampang Sessions Court. – Bernama
