KUALA LUMPUR: Celebrity preacher, Ebit Lew will go on trial for 11 charges related to sexual harassment at the Tenom magistrate's court, Sabah, next month.
The matter was confirmed by police's Corporate Communications head Assistant Commissioner A Skandaguru, in a statement today.
"Ebit Lew, who was accused in the Tenom magistrate's court in February on 11 charges of sexual harassment under Section 509 of the Penal Code, will be tried between Sept 27 to 30 in the same court," he said.
If convicted, Ebit 38, or his real name is Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, could face up to five years behind bars or a fine or both for each charge.
On Feb 18, Ebit, who is also an entrepreneur, was charged in the court on 11 charges involving to sexual harassment.
He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Magistrate Nur Asyraf Zolhani.
Prosecution was conducted by Sabah State Director of Prosecutions, Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad with the assistance of Deputy Public Prosecutor, Azreen Yas Mohamad Ramli, while Lew was represented by lawyer, Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin.
Ebit was released on bail of RM1,000 for each charge, with two sureties.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hassan reportedly said that Ebit is facing charges for sending obscene pictures and words with the intention of insulting someone's dignity through the WhatsApp application.
He said all the charges are for offenses allegedly committed in the Tenom district, Sabah between March and June 2021, against a woman.
In July last year, an investigation against Ebit was conducted after the police received reports from several individuals alleging the preacher had committed sexual harassment.
Following the report, police opened investigation papers under Section 509 of the Penal Code, Section 14 of the Minor Offenses Act 1955 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Ebit had his statement in August and October last year to assist in the investigations.
He has claimed that the allegations were nothing more than a cruel defamation against him.