PETALING JAYA: Celebrity preacher Azman Syah Alias, better known as PU Azman, has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment and two lashes for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy two years ago.
Sessions Court judge Noridah Adam sentenced Azman, 43, after ruling that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of the trial.
"The accused is guilty and convicted of both charges.
"For the first charge, the sentence is 12 years in prison and one stroke of the cane, with the second charge also resulting in 12 years in prison and one caning to be served consecutively," Noridah said during the proceeedings on Friday (Sept 27).
On Dec 26 last year, the court determined that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, leading to Azman being ordered to defend himself.
He faced two charges of sexually assaulting a teenager at a homestay in Kampung Sungai Udang at 12.15am on Feb 20 and at 1am on June 29, 2022.
Azman was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and caning, if convicted.
The preacher faces nine other charges, with five in the Seremban Sessions Court, two cases in the Shah Alam Court and one case each in the Klang Magistrate's Court and the Ampang Sessions Court.
