Ebit Lew trial: Witness denies having consensual relationship with preacher

TENOM: The 40-year-old woman at the centre of a sexual harassment case against preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew (pic) denied having a consensual relationship with him at the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (Sept 3).

The woman, who is the prosecution’s ninth witness, said that if she really had a consensual relationship, she would have followed Lew’s wishes to view her body during a video call.

ALSO READ: Ebit Lew case: Witness did not give police mobile phone used to record video call

The complainant also told the court during the cross-examination by Lew’s counsel Datuk Ram Singh that she rejected Lew’s request and recorded the video call, adding that she had not intended to do so initially but did not regret doing so as the video turned out to be useful as evidence to secure justice over Lew’s sexual harassment of her.

Ram Singh: Why would you do that as from your evidence you recorded without Ebit Lew’s consent or knowledge?

Witness: I didn’t know at the time it was my instinct to record and that was the first time I recorded. If you ask me today, it was good that I recorded (the video).

Meanwhile, the 10th prosecution witness, police photographer Corporal Shahrul Sanudin, 38, told the court that he took 35 photographs of a house in Shah Alam on Aug 19, 2021 and two of a mobile phone.

ALSO READ: Ebit Lew subtly manipulated me to comply with his desires, says witness

In the examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Analia Kamaruddin, the witness said that the photos included the front of the house, the house number, the electricity bill, the living room, the bedhead, bolster, the bathroom and the front and back of a mobile phone.

The 11th prosecution witness, police photographer Corporal Husni Haris Ramli@Fauzi, 34, testified that he also took four photos of the front and back of the mobile phone with the SIM and memory cards.

Husni Haris said he transferred the photos to two compact discs (CD) with notes relating to the case report in Tenom.

Lew, 38, is facing 11 charges of outraging the modesty of the 40-year-old woman by sending lewd messages and photographs to the victim via Whatsapp between March and June 2021.

He was charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code and will face five year’s jail or fine or both if found guilty.

The trial resumes on Wednesday (Sept 4).- Bernama